prix is held as a potential title decider late on in the year -lrb- 2004-2008 -rrb- or as an early opener -lrb- 2009-present -rrb- it can often be hit with outside variables ; wet conditions often sprinkling some unpredictability over a weekend .
the shanghai circuit held the inaugural chinese grand prix in 2004 and has been home to the event ever since .