Several drivers criticize the choice of a Sprint race in China

After five years of absence, the Chinese Grand Prix will return to the F1 calendar on the weekend of April 19 to 21. Chinese fans will thus rediscover the premier category cars that they have not seen since 2019, the date of the last race held at the Shanghai International Circuit.

This return will be marked by the first Sprint race of the season. After Shanghai, Miami, the Red Bull Ring, Austin, Interlagos, and Losail will also have the honor of hosting two races on their track this year.

The format of Sprint races having been modified last season, only one free practice session is now scheduled in this type of weekend. After this session held on Friday morning, the Sprint qualifying session takes place in the afternoon. Saturday’s schedule focuses on the Sprint race and the Sunday Grand Prix qualifiers. This leaves the drivers with only one session to find the right setups before the real action begins.

With the first edition of the Chinese Grand Prix held for five years and the appearance of ground-effect cars two years ago, this single free practice session is going to be crucial for all the drivers on the grid.

Very critical of this weekend format, Max Verstappen was skeptical about the choice of Shanghai as the host of a Sprint race.

« That’s very clever to do that,” the Dutchman said ironically. « Let’s rather say that it’s not good. Because when you haven’t been on a track for a long time, you never know what you’ll discover, right? So it would have been better to have a normal race weekend. It will surely bring some excitement, but from a driving point of view, it’s not the smartest thing to do.”

More nuanced, his teammate Sergio Pérez also laments the lack of preparation inherent to Sprint races.

« I think that for the show, it’s a good thing. But for the preparation, it will be really very difficult.

Finally, Carlos Sainz, the podium regular since the beginning of the season, (he is the only driver to have climbed onto the podium in every race he has taken part in editor’s note), first wanted to express all the good he thought of the Chinese circuit.

« I find that China has a very good racing circuit. I think it’s even one of the favorites for everyone. It’s a circuit that offers good overtaking opportunities, so organizing a Sprint there makes sense.

Despite everything, the Ferrari driver believes that choosing Shanghai for a Sprint race this season is not ideal.

« With these cars, going on track for only an hour of testing and then directly to qualifying, with these regulations and the wear of the floors due to the bumps, I think it’s not a good choice to have chosen this circuit for a Sprint after five years of absence.

Reading these comments, the Chinese Grand Prix promises to be exciting to follow and a few surprises cannot be ruled out.