2024 Chinese Grand Prix A Challenging One For All Drivers

Five years after the infamous COVID or Coronavirus pandemic defamed the Chinese Grand Prix, eliminating its presence from the calendar, the venue has returned for all on the grid as well as those connected to the sport, irrespective of whether through blogging or punditry or as pure fans.

The last time that the Chinese Grand Prix was featured in an FIA F1 World championship was actually back in 2019.

To some of us, it might not seem that dated a story after all. But if you were to simply cast your mind onto that period in time where F1 last visited China, it would be interesting to note so many facets that were still a part of the sport we love.

For instance, drivers like Kimi Räikkönen and Sebastian Vettel were still very much actively battling in F1 when racing last happened at the Chinese Grand Prix. The incredible Yuki Tsunoda was yet to make his F1 Grand Prix debut, which would happen not before 2021.

Back after long- the Chinese Grand Prix

So far back in time was this that the 2019 Chinese Grand Prix was actually the first for a certain Charles Leclerc in a Ferrari; 2019 being Leclerc’s first year with the Maranello-based outfit. Lewis Hamilton hadn’t yet trundled off to the midfield where he’s presently fighting and back then, was paired with a high-performing, incredibly-quick machinery.

There was no Oscar Piastri or Logan Sergeant in Formula 1 when racing last happened in China.

So much time has gone by since then that perhaps it may not be truly unfair to say that most drivers would be found struggling as the date for the first free practice session fast approaches.

While it’s true that we have amid us irrepressibly quick and perpetually-eager-to-win names in Max Verstappen or Fernando Alonso, truth certainly is that simply because none of the 20 current names on the grid have had any sort of recent racing experience at the venue that the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix could well be a challenging one.

More than speed, drivers will look for quick adaptability to a track of which they have no recent racing history and that the latest memory of having battled here belongs to half a decade back in time, which in itself, poses a daunting challenge to the twenty men on the grid.

New circuit to those who are new to the sport

How will the tyres hold on and what’s the reference point to a really fast track could well be some of the early starter questions to the ten teams all set to participate in round five of the FIA F1 2024 World Championship season.

But having said that all, the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix is likely to test drivers such as Zhou Guanyu, Yuki Tsunoda, Logan Sergeant and Oscar Piastri the most, if you were to think of it.

None of these drivers have ever raced here in China before and the upcoming free practice sessions and subsequently, the qualifying battle shall be of massive interest to them and their respective teams.

Which also brings us to the point about the big sprint contest that’s bound happen later this week. Drivers will first get a chance to participate in the qualifying for the sprint race and later, the sprint contest itself.

The intricacies of the Chinese Grand Prix

But while the subject of hosting a first sprint weekend of the year in China is, in itself, a polarising one with many suggesting that it’ll only amplify the troubles of those grappling with a lack of familiarity with the track, truth is that the Sprint contest does allow drivers to get a first-hand experience of how might the main Grand Prix seem.

A high-speed track worth 56 laps built by Hermann Tilke at the exorbitant cost of roughly $240 million is surely going to spring up some surprises for us on April 21. The first and second corners combine to form an interesting 270-degree corner.

But who will ace this one? Will we see a Ferrari returning to collect the top honours amid tens of thousands of those in big numbers or will usual service resume with Red Bull acing yet another Grand Prix? How will the young guns of an age old sport we so adore shine brightly at China?

These are just some, not all, of the questions that’ll pick our interest in the days to follow.

Max Verstappen could well clinch his maiden win at Chinese Grand Prix