2011 Chinese Grand Prix practice in pictures

F1 pictures

15th April 2011, 10:1616th April 2011, 5:14 | Written by Keith Collantine

A haze of smog hung over the Shanghai International Circuit as practice began this morning.

Nearby factories which are usually instructed to shut down around the time of the race are instead running as normal.

Here are pictures of the cars in the haze in China.

F1 pictures

Images ?�?� Ferrari spa/Ercole Colombo, Renault/LAT, Williams/LAT, McLaren, Getty Images/Red Bull, Force India F1 Team, Sauber F1 Team, Team Lotus, Virgin Racing, Motioncompany, Pirelli

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Keith Collantine

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45 comments on “2011 Chinese Grand Prix practice in pictures”

Red Andy (@red-andy)
15th April 2011, 10:31
The smog is standard for metropolitan China. When I went to the Great Wall I remember looking back in the direction of Beijing. You couldn’t see the city, but you could see where it was – somewhere inside the massive brownish cloud off in the distance.
1. BasCB (@bascb)
  15th April 2011, 15:30
  that top picture of Rosberg in front of the pits building and bridge looks very spooky, almost SF movie like!
  1. bosyber (@bosyber)
    16th April 2011, 3:49
    Would almost make Mad Max return, I’m sure.
Robert McKay
15th April 2011, 11:38
Nearby factories which are usually instructed to shut down around the time of the race are instead running as normal.
Novelty of the GP and the desire to paint a rosier picture of everything finally evaporated, maybe?
Phil
15th April 2011, 11:40
Too many pictures of those dull bland looking dark blue cars, when I loaded the homepage I thought it was redbullfanatic.co.uk. More McLaren`s and Ferrari`s please !
1. dennis (@dennis)
  15th April 2011, 12:03
  9 pics of Bulls, including Toro Rossos, 8 pics of McLaren alone.
  What was your point again?
  1. vjanik
    15th April 2011, 14:02
    he probably means the latest articles. if you open the hompage its full of RBR. no wonder considering their performance though
2. AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
  15th April 2011, 14:55
  Well yea, I did notice that myself. Hardly ‘redbullfanatic’ is it though?
Todfod (@todfod)
15th April 2011, 11:45
If they ever have a Mumbai GP, I can guarantee you that these smog levels will be put to shame.
1. Burnout
  15th April 2011, 17:45
  Don’t give Bernie ideas!
Macca (@macca)
15th April 2011, 11:57
Hey photographers, you do relize there are 2 Red Bulls out ther right?
1. Chops (@chops)
  16th April 2011, 3:44
  Yeah, all the good shots are always of Vettel :(
  1. Chops (@chops)
    16th April 2011, 3:46
    Infact, all bar one are Vettel
    1. Macca (@macca)
      16th April 2011, 3:52
      That’s my point. One photo.
just.daz (@nemo87)
15th April 2011, 12:03
Hamilton has 3 fingers :o
1. PaulM (@pmelton)
  15th April 2011, 13:21
  Yellow head and 3 fingers… Was Homer Simpson driving?
  1. just.daz (@nemo87)
    15th April 2011, 13:51
    hahahahahaha 10pts
    1. just.daz (@nemo87)
      15th April 2011, 13:51
      or should i say 25pts ;)
Steph (@)
15th April 2011, 12:53
I love the selection today so thanks Keith! I think the first one of Nico is my favourite.
I don’t know why (probably my insane PC) but this year whenever I try to sue the pictures as screensavers they’re a little blurry. Does anyone happen to know a fancy tech trick I could pull to make them more clear? Any help would be much appreciated :)
Tom
15th April 2011, 13:14
F1 is not any more a novelty in China Bernie.
Perf
15th April 2011, 13:17
At least he still has his opposable thumb :)
1. Perf
  15th April 2011, 13:18
  The above was in reply to Nemo87’s comment, of course :)
chaostheory
15th April 2011, 13:39
Some awesome pictures there! Especially first Schumachers one and Vettel coming out of the garage (30th photo). Now I have something good for my desktop, thanks!
markshen
15th April 2011, 13:54
“Nearby factories which are usually instructed to shut down around the time of the race are instead running as normal.”
Are you sure they were closed last year? People here are just funny and easily influenced by the media. The fact is that it is a normal fog not smog. The media keeps bashing China and makes everything dirty. Shanghai is a coast city and it’s common to have this weather in spring. If you visit San Fransico, you will find it’s much worse. And also this year’s GT1 was held in fog in Abu Dhabi and I found no such harsh criticism.
1. AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
  15th April 2011, 14:56
  Where is the criticism in what Keith said?
  Just a fact is it not?
2. Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
  15th April 2011, 15:33
  That’s nice but I have been to China and I know the difference between fog and smog.
  1. bosyber (@bosyber)
    16th April 2011, 3:55
    Unless the photographers use filters, those pics also show it clearly. It is true that fog can sometimes cause smog to stay around more, that happens in the Netherlands too with fog during rush hour, but not to this extent.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
15th April 2011, 14:58
The huge Chinese lettering looks great :)
Young One
15th April 2011, 15:27
omg, I am glad I don’t live in a Chinese city.
1. markshen
  15th April 2011, 16:11
  So this is the effect that your media wants. Lol. So England is sunny every day? Last time I visited London it rained cats and dogs and was foggy much worse than Shanghai.
  1. Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
    15th April 2011, 16:18
    Fog and smog aren’t the same thing (and I think you’re jumping to conclusions about what part of the world he’s from).
  2. mateuss (@mateuss)
    15th April 2011, 16:19
    There is a difference between fresh foggy or moist air and smoggy one thats chocking you, and overcast weather is my favorite weather condition.
    BTW I’am not from the UK, and glad that not from China(urban area) as well.
  3. Tango
    15th April 2011, 18:42
    I’m from France, so dissing London would be a joy, but London hasn’t seen a smog in 50 years.
    1. markshen
      15th April 2011, 19:18
      http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-445046/Who-stole-Big-Ben.html
      Taken 2007, much worse than Shanghai i can say
      1. matt90 (@matt90)
        15th April 2011, 20:58
        If you actually read that article it says it was blown in from other countries like Ukraine and Russia lol
    2. Robert McKay
      15th April 2011, 19:59
      Every major city has a smog problem to some extent.
      In London it’ll certainly be nothing like the Victorian pea-soupers but they’ll still have smog.
Burnout
15th April 2011, 17:53
That picture of Vettel’s car from the back (12th pic) looks very ominous. Almost like a sign of things to come!
Jenson doesn’t seem too worried, does he?
joe
15th April 2011, 19:21
I like that you put an HRT up as the front of the album
box this lap (@sebashuis)
15th April 2011, 19:42
Thanks for the pictures!
LuvinF1
15th April 2011, 20:12
Thanks, Keith. You have secured some really nice photos from all the teams.
MattHT (@mattht)
15th April 2011, 21:49
The pic of Karthikeyan entering the pits is amazing – love it!
*Screensavered*
Ralph
15th April 2011, 22:08
Are the Bell helmets only equipped with the Zylon insert?
See pic. Luiz Razzia & Vitaly Petrov.
Arai wearer Paul Di Resta has no Zylon insert?
Alex Bkk (@alex-bkk)
16th April 2011, 1:41
Who was it that made the comment during the FP2 Live Blog about “Hydroplaning on smog” ?
Brilliant!
1. Alex Bkk (@alex-bkk)
  16th April 2011, 1:49
  Correction FP1
zhang
16th April 2011, 4:14
Please much Ferrari the outfield picture.thanks!very GOOD web this.
my English NO good!Thank you Keith.

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45 comments on “2011 Chinese Grand Prix practice in pictures”