After five years of absence, there will be racing again next weekend in Shanghai and for the first time in 2024 we will also be pleased with a sprint race.
Max Verstappen has already been critical of the fact that a so-called alternative race weekend is being held in China for the first time because it has been so long since there was an F1 race at the Shanghai International Circuit. Sergio Perez and Carlos Sainz also indicated in the media that they were concerned.
Sergio Perez hopes for a quiet weekend: “I just hope there are no problems with the track, with drainage holes or anything like that,” he said. “That will throw us off the pace. But I think for the show it's probably good.”
“It's a good thing. But I think the preparation will be very difficult, because I have never raced there with Red Bull, so there is a lot to consider in one practice session.”
Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz gives a more nuanced opinion, also about the sprint format.
“I think there are two different issues,” he emphasized. “I think China as a racetrack is great.”
“I think it's one of our favorite tracks for everyone. It’s just a great race track and one that offers good overtaking opportunities, so a Sprint makes sense to have there.”
“At the same time, we said in the driver briefing to the FIA and Formula 1 that with these types of cars it is not good to go to a circuit with one hour of training and straight to qualifying, with the regulations they have imposed on us, with the wear and tear on the boards and things like that, and how hard one bump the car can make, I don't think it’s a good choice to bring in the Sprint after four or five years of absence,” he said.
There is also a new asphalt layer on the circuit in Shanghai and Sainz does not rule out a scenario like the one in Turkey in 2020.
“We also heard that a new asphalt layer has been applied, so Istanbul 2.0 might be possible! Yes, I hope not. So yeah, it just shows the uncertainty.
“Maybe it is exciting for you at home, but for the engineers and drivers it is something that in my opinion we should not risk and have a normal weekend.”