The upcoming Chinese Grand Prix might shake up Formula 1, making it less predictable if Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will win on Sunday.
Verstappen, a three-time world champion, has been dominating with 22 wins in the last 26 races and three victories in the first four races of this season. However, he faced a brake failure in Australia, which prevented him from potentially winning all four races.
Red Bull’s principal, Christian Horner, believes the race could bring surprises and unexpected outcomes, making it action-packed.
Several factors contribute to the uncertainty. Firstly, the track in China hasn’t hosted an F1 race in five years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The last race in 2019 was won by Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton. Additionally, this race features the season’s first Saturday sprint race, meaning there’s only one practice session on Friday.
One significant uncertainty is the condition of the racing surface, which has been coated with a thin layer of “seal coating” or liquid asphalt. Pirelli, the tire supplier, wasn’t fully informed about these changes before the race.
During Friday’s practice session, unexpected names like Lance Stroll and Oscar Piastri topped the time charts, with Verstappen and his teammate Sergio Perez following closely. Even Haas drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen showed promising performances.
China’s first F1 driver, Zhou Guanyu, also impressed, finishing 11th in practice with a Sauber. Despite Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc hinting at closing the gap with Red Bull, the team struggled in practice, with Leclerc and teammate Carlos Sainz finishing 13th and 14th, respectively.
McLaren’s team principal, Andrea Stella, noted reduced tire grip and heavy wear due to the unfamiliar track surface during practice, suggesting that the race could provide excitement and opportunities for action.
