Shanghai E-Prix: The XXL preview of the two races in China's largest metropolis

This marks the third time the Formula E World Championship has visited the Shanghai International Circuit. The circuit, originally designed for Formula 1, promises thrilling battles and crucial points in the fight for the Drivers’, Teams’ and Manufacturers’ World Championships. In all three championships, the race weekend in China could prove decisive for the final stretch of the season.

Where exactly is the race taking place?

With a population of around 24 million, Shanghai is China’s largest city and ranks among the world’s most important economic and financial centres. The metropolis lies on the country’s east coast and combines futuristic skyscrapers with historic districts. The "Bund" waterfront promenade is particularly well known, offering an impressive view of the Pudong skyline. Tradition and modernity meet here - a fitting venue for the all-electric Formula E.

Next stop: Shanghai 🇨🇳

Take a closer look at the Shanghai International Circuit ahead of this weekend’s double-header ⚡️#ShanghaiEPrix #FormulaE pic.twitter.com/kcqxJ5apji

— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) July 1, 2026

Quick Stats: Shanghai E-Prix

• Since 2024, Formula E has held four races at the Shanghai International Circuit. Four different drivers have won here so far. There have also been four different pole-sitters.
• Three drivers have each finished on the podium twice in Shanghai: Nick Cassidy, Antonio Felix da Costa and Pascal Wehrlein. The German is the only one of these three drivers who has never won in Shanghai.
• Jean-Eric Vergne is the only driver to have scored points in all four races in Shanghai. In contrast, Edoardo Mortara is still waiting for his first point in the city, even after his fourth start in Shanghai.
• Although Formula E has already raced in four cities in China – Beijing, Hong Kong and Sanya – the series has not yet held more than four races in any one city. That is set to change this year, with Shanghai becoming the first Chinese city to host a fifth (and a sixth) race.

TV & Live stream: Where is the Shanghai E-Prix being held?

The Shanghai E-Prix is a double-header and will take place on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 July 2026. The race weekend begins with the first free practice session on Friday at 10:00. The action continues on Saturday at 2.30 am with the second free practice session, followed by qualifying at 4.40 am. The race starts at 9.05 am.

On Sunday, the race day begins at 2.30 pm with the third free practice session. As on the previous day, qualifying follows at 4.40 pm, so that the race can start at 9.05 am.

As always, you can follow all the sessions of the race weekend on our popular Formula E live ticker.

All times are in Central European Summer Time (CEST)

What makes the Shanghai circuit so special?

The Shanghai International Circuit is one of the most distinctive circuits in international motorsport. The layout, designed by Hermann Tilke, is modelled on the Chinese character "上" (shang), which means, amongst other things, "up" or "to rise". Its most distinctive features are the long, sweeping first corner with its progressively tighter radius, and the back straight, which is over a kilometre long and regularly allows for spectacular overtaking manoeuvres, though it is omitted from the Formula E circuit. The mix of technical corners, hard braking points and long full-throttle sections places considerable demands on the drivers and engineers.

In what order do the drivers take part in qualifying?

Formula E qualifying consists of a group stage and a head-to-head stage. First, the field of drivers is divided into two groups based on the current World Championship standings: drivers in the odd-numbered positions (1, 3, 5, 7, etc.) start in Group A, whilst those in the even-numbered positions start in Group B.

The four fastest drivers from each group then qualify for the head-to-head phase, in which pole position is decided via a knockout system. For the first Shanghai E-Prix, this results in the following groups.

Weather forecast: Warm and rainy

The weather forecast for the race weekend promises challenging conditions. Whilst temperatures of up to 30 degrees are expected, the probability of rain stands at around 90 per cent. This means that changing track conditions could have a decisive influence on the outcome. For drivers and teams, it will be crucial to set up the car perfectly and make the right strategic decisions. Energy management, in particular, could become even more important in changeable weather.

Who are the favourites?

In the four Formula E races held so far at the Shanghai International Circuit, there have been four different winners - a sign of just how evenly matched the field is on this track. Nevertheless, championship leader Mitch Evans is among the favourites. The Jaguar driver has already won in Shanghai and heads to China riding the momentum of his championship lead. The circuit and the car suit him well, which is why there is every reason to expect another strong weekend.

Oliver Rowland is also among the top favourites. Although last weekend’s race in Sanya did not go to plan, the reigning world champion still occupies second place in the overall standings. Nissan has been in strong form recently. Should Rowland translate his pace into a flawless weekend, he could secure his first victory on this very circuit in Shanghai.

Pascal Wehrlein should not be underestimated either. The Porsche driver has already been on the podium twice in Shanghai, but is still waiting for his first victory there. Given Porsche’s strong form, that could change this weekend.

Do you think someone else will win? Then take part in the free community prediction game on Kicktipp and prove your Formula E know-how!