Multiple Drivers Question F1 Sprint In China

After nearly five years, Formula 1 is going back racing at the Shanghai International Circuit. The Chinese Grand Prix, taking place this weekend between 19th and 21st of April, is also bringing us the first Sprint of the 2024 season.

That means we’ll get to see only one free practice session on Friday, and then the drivers will jump right into the Sprint Shootout. On Saturday, we’ll see the Sprint race and a few hours after, Qualifying will follow. Then on Sunday, as we’re used to, will be the race itself.

Of course, the issue with all of this is the fact the last data from this track the teams have available is from 2019. In between, we now not only have a new generation of cars that are more sensitive to bumps – which is a common feature on this track, because it was built on swampland. The circuit was also resurfaced, so it’s possible the old data won’t be for any use.

The words of Pirelli Formula 1 chief engineer, Simone Berra, basically confirm it: “It’s like a new circuit, honestly. Because we have new cars, new tyres, the 18-inch [rims].”

“The track was really not used in five years, it was just used for one race per year or something like that. So, it will be really green and quite dirty, although obviously, they will clean the track.”

“And we need to understand even from tarmac measurement pre-event how it has changed. In the past, it was quite rough in terms of both micro and macro roughness. We need to understand how ageing has gone in the last years.”

“So not much data, and even for the teams it will be a big challenge, not just for us, but for the teams even more probably.”

The other problem that many pointed out is the fact that to figure all these new things and data out, the teams and drivers will have only sixty minutes of one practice session – due to the decision to make the Chinese Grand Prix a Sprint weekend. Multiple drivers spoke about their feelings and worries regarding the quite chaotic comeback to Shanghai.

The defending world champion, Max Verstappen, was never shy to question other Sprints and tracks in the past. It’s no surprise that he’s the one commenting on this topic when asked by Autosport about it.

“Yeah, it’s very smart to do that,” he said sarcastically.

“It’s not great to do that because when you have been away from a track for quite a while, I think you never know what you’re going to experience, so it would have been better to have a normal race weekend there.”

“On the other hand, it probably spices things up a bit more, and that’s maybe what they would like to see.”

“But purely from a driving and performance perspective of the sport, I think it’s not the smartest thing to do. We’ll see what we get there.”

“I always loved driving there, so hopefully we can hit the ground running as well as we can, and hopefully we don’t need to fine-tune too many things on the car.”

One part in particular piqued my attention – could he be implying the organizers care more about “spicing things up” and making the weekend a great show full of action and possible chaos, than actually considering the “driving and performance perspective of the sport”?

Whatever it is, Verstappen isn’t the only one to share their opinion on the situation. His teammate and Red Bull’s second driver, Sergio Pérez, who never before actually raced on the Shanghai International Circuit with his current team, also shared his opinion:

“I just hope that there are no issues with the track, with any drain holes, any issues like that. That will just put us out of sync. But I think for the show, probably it’s good.”

“It’s a good thing. But I think from the preparation side, it’s going to be definitely one that is going to be really hard because, I mean, I’ve never raced there with Red Bull so it’s going to be quite a lot to do in a single practice.”

Once again, Pérez mentions that “for the show, probably it’s good” – which yes, it probably is.

Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who’s still looking for a new seat for next year, sees both sides of the argument: “I think there are two different topics.”

“I think China as a race circuit is a great one. I think it’s one of our favourite ones for everyone. It’s just a great racing track and a track that offers a good possibility to overtake, so a Sprint makes sense to have it there.”

However, the Spaniard also considers the same issue as the other drivers – the long absence of the Chinese Grand Prix on the Formula 1 calendar and all the changes that happened in the meantime.

“At the same time, it’s what we said in the drivers’ briefing, we say to FIA and Formula 1, with these kind of cars to go to a track with one hour of practice and straight into qualifying, with the regulations that they put us, with the plank wear and things like this, and how tricky one bump could make the car, I think it’s not a good choice to choose to put the Sprint after four or five years absence.”

Sainz is also worried about the resurfacing of the track, thinking about a similar comeback to Turkey in 2020, when the cars had lack of grip.

“We also heard there’s been resurfacing going on, so Istanbul 2.0 maybe on the cards! Yeah, I hope not. So yeah, it just shows the uncertainty.”

“Maybe for you guys at home it’s exciting, but for engineers and drivers, it’s something that for me, in my opinion, we shouldn’t take the risk and have a normal weekend.”

As it seems, all three drivers agree on one thing – for the viewers, it might be “exciting” and fun to watch, but for them and the teams, it’ll be all but that. Now the question remaining is if FIA and Formula 1 really did prioritize the spectacle and possible show, or there’s something else behind the decision to hold the first Sprint of 2024 in China.

In any case, some drivers and probably even team members across the grid don’t feel too happy about it. Surely on Thursday, on media day before the official start of the Grand Prix, we’ll get the chance to hear more details and opinions from the rest. I’ll be curious to see if this topic goes further, or it’ll remain unsaid throughout the weekend itself.