Reilly Sullivan quit Sydney, moved to Beijing, and came straight out of the Shanghai paddock. This episode is part Chinese Grand Prix review, part insider account of life as a freelance journalist in the Formula 1 paddock, and part travel guide for anyone considering Shanghai as their next race destination.
The Shanghai International Circuit was purpose-built when China joined the Formula 1 calendar in 2004, and the facilities show it. The media centre is one of the largest on the calendar, positioned at the end of the main straight rather than directly above the pit lane like most circuits. Reilly describes it as top notch — a genuine step up from Melbourne and Singapore.
On the race: Kimi Antonelli’s win was his second grand prix and he is Reilly’s early pick for world champion. George Russell is the other name in the conversation, but both he and Reilly note that Mercedes know the regulation advantage has a limited window before the field closes up. The sprint weekend delivered genuine racing throughout, and two rounds in the 2026 era is earning its keep.
Reilly also caught a brief word with Nico Hulkenberg about the April race break, and Hulkenberg’s response — that sometimes there are things bigger than the sport and safety comes first — was one of the more measured things said by anyone in the paddock all weekend.
On China as a destination: Beijing and Shanghai are genuinely different cities. Beijing is more authentically Chinese, more immersive, better for anyone who wants to really engage with the culture. Shanghai is more international, more familiar for Western visitors, and arguably an easier entry point for a first trip. Reilly is learning Mandarin and finding the locals patient and generous with the language barrier.
The episode is also an honest conversation about what it feels like to move somewhere genuinely unfamiliar as an adult — the vulnerability, the sink or swim moments, and why it is worth it.