Shanghai is a front limited track. Turn 1 goes on for ever and gets tighter, turn 13 goes on for ever and opens up, and in both the front left tyre does all the work. If the car does not turn, you are slow here.
This is the F1 2019 China setup on this site: wings 4 and 7, a very soft front bar, the stiffest rear bar and an open differential. It is a time trial setup, saved with 10 kg of fuel.
F1 2019 China setup
| Setting | Front | Rear |
|---|---|---|
| Wing | 4 | 7 |
| Camber | -2.50 | -1.00 |
| Toe | 0.05 | 0.20 |
| Suspension | 4 | 3 |
| Anti-roll bar | 3 | 11 |
| Ride height | 2 | 4 |
| Tyre pressure | 23.4 psi | 21.5 psi |
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Fuel load | 10 kg |
| Differential on throttle | 50% |
| Differential off throttle | 60% |
| Brake pressure | 82% |
| Front brake bias | 55% |
In F1 2019 the wings, suspension, anti-roll bars and ride height all use a scale from 1 to 11.
This setup was collected for the site in 2022 from a fast time trial lap, like the rest of my F1 2019 setups. Use it as a base and adjust it with the table further down.
Why this setup works in Shanghai
The lap is 5.451 km with 16 corners. Two things define it. The first is the pair of very long right handers, turn 1 and 2 at the start and turn 12 and 13 before the back straight. The second is the back straight itself, more than a kilometre long, with a hairpin at the end.
The wings. 4 and 7 is a medium level. You could run less for the straight, but you would pay in the long corners, and the lap has more time in the corners than on the straight. The rear wing is three clicks higher than the front, which keeps the rear stable on the way into turn 1 at full speed.
The differential. 50% on throttle is fully open. 60% off throttle is close to open too. An open differential lets the two rear wheels turn at different speeds, and in a long corner that is what you want: the car follows the front and does not push. It is also kind to the rear tyres.
The geometry. Camber -2.50 and -1.00, toe 0.05 and 0.20. The values with the least angle in the menu. Less camber means less heat on the inside edge of the tyre, and in Shanghai the front left needs all the help it can get.
Soft front bar, stiff rear bar
The front anti-roll bar is at 3. The rear is at 11, the maximum. This is the heart of the setup.
A soft front bar gives the front tyres more grip. A stiff rear bar takes grip away from the rear. Put the two together and the balance moves towards oversteer. The car turns in sharply and keeps turning in the middle of the corner, which is where Shanghai asks for it.
It has a price. With the rear bar at 11 the rear is nervous if you are rough with the steering or the throttle. In time trial, on new tyres, you can live with it. Over a race distance I would not.
The springs are soft, 4 and 3, so the car takes the kerbs in turn 9 and 10 without jumping. Ride height is 2 at the front and 4 at the rear. The low nose and the higher rear give the car some rake, which again helps the front end.
What to change
One change at a time, three laps, then decide.
| Problem | Change | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The rear steps out in the middle of turn 1 and 2 | Rear anti-roll bar 11 to 8 | A softer rear bar gives the rear tyres more grip in a long corner |
| The rear moves when you lift or brake into turn 6 or turn 14 | Off throttle differential 60% to 75% | More lock off the throttle keeps the rear in line on entry |
| Understeer in the long right of turn 12 and 13 | Front wing 4 to 5 | More front downforce where the front left works hardest |
| Front tyres lock into the turn 14 hairpin | Brake pressure 82% to 78% | Less peak pressure, easier to hold at the limit without ABS |
| Slow on the back straight | Rear wing 7 to 6 | Less drag on a straight of more than a kilometre |
| Wheelspin out of turn 3, turn 6 or turn 14 | Rear tyre pressure 21.5 to 21.1 psi | A slightly softer rear tyre has a bigger footprint under traction |
| The car hits the kerbs hard in turn 9 and 10 | Front ride height 2 to 3 | More room under the floor |
For a race
In a race the tyres have to last, and a car that slides at the rear overheats its rear tyres as well as its fronts. Before a 25% or 50% race I would change this:
- Rear anti-roll bar 11 to 8. The first change. The car is calmer and you can lean on it for a full stint.
- Off throttle differential 60% to 70%. More stability on the brakes with fuel in the car.
- Front wing 4 to 5. To keep the front end working once the rear is calmer, and to save the front left.
- Fuel. The 10 kg is a time trial number. In a race the game sets the load for the distance.
On a pad, I would take the brake pressure down to around 78% and the rear bar down to 7. A stick has less precision than a wheel, and a nervous rear is harder to catch with a thumb.
F1 2019 has manual ERS modes. In Shanghai I would spend the battery on the back straight and on the pit straight, and save it from turn 1 to turn 10.
Where the lap time is in Shanghai
- Turn 1 and 2. You arrive flat out and the corner gets tighter and tighter. Do not brake hard at the start. Lift, turn in, and brake gently as the corner closes, keeping the car on the inside. If you run wide here you are off line for turn 3.
- Turn 3. A slow left right after the spiral. Get the car straight before you go to the throttle.
- Turn 6. A hairpin after a short straight. A normal braking zone and a place to pass. Late apex.
- Turn 7 and 8. Fast left, fast right. One line, a small lift for turn 7, and carry the speed into turn 8. The soft front bar helps here.
- Turn 9 and 10. Two slow lefts. The exit of turn 10 leads onto a short straight, so be patient in turn 9.
- Turn 11, 12 and 13. The most important part of the lap. A slow left, then a right that opens up for a long time onto the back straight. Go to the throttle bit by bit and let the car run out to the kerb. Every km/h on the exit stays with you for more than a kilometre.
- Turn 14. The hairpin at the end of the back straight and the best place to overtake. Brake in a straight line. It is easy to lock the fronts here, because you arrive at top speed.
- Turn 16. The last corner, a quick left. Use all the exit kerb and carry the speed down the pit straight.
In turn 13 the rule I give drivers in karting applies fully: the exit of the corner before the longest straight is worth more than any entry. Give up a metre on the way in and take it back ten times on the way out.
Shanghai in 2019
The 2019 Chinese Grand Prix was round 3 of 21, on 14 April. It was the 1000th race of the world championship. Valtteri Bottas took pole position in 1:31.547, but Lewis Hamilton made the better start and won, with Bottas second. It was the third one-two in three races for Mercedes.
Sebastian Vettel was third for Ferrari, after the team told Charles Leclerc to let him past early in the race. Pierre Gasly took the fastest lap for Red Bull.
More F1 2019 setups
All the tracks are on the F1 2019 setups page. The round before China is the F1 2019 Bahrain setup and the round after it is the F1 2019 Baku setup, which needs far less wing.
For the same track in other games, here are my F1 2018 China setup, my F1 2020 China setup and my F1 25 China setup. The values do not carry over from one game to the next.
FAQ
What is the best F1 2019 setup for China?
Front wing 4, rear wing 7, differential 50% on throttle and 60% off, suspension 4 and 3, anti-roll bars 3 and 11, ride height 2 and 4, brake pressure 82% with 55% front bias, and tyres at 23.4 and 21.5 psi.
What wing levels should I run in China in F1 2019?
4 at the front and 7 at the rear for time trial. For a race I would go to 5 at the front to protect the front left tyre.
Can I use this China setup in a race?
Yes, with a few changes. Soften the rear anti-roll bar from 11 to 8, raise the off throttle differential to 70% and add a click of front wing.
Does this setup work with a controller?
Yes, but the rear is lively. I would lower the rear anti-roll bar to 7 and the brake pressure to around 78%.
Why does the front left tyre wear so fast in Shanghai?
Because turn 1, 2, 12 and 13 are long right handers, and the front left carries the load the whole way. Less understeer means less sliding and less wear.
Where can I overtake in Shanghai in F1 2019?
Into the turn 14 hairpin at the end of the back straight with DRS, then into turn 1 and turn 6.
How long is the Shanghai track in F1 2019?
5.451 km with 16 corners. The real race is 56 laps.