F1 rivals Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz share same Chinese Grand Prix concern

17 April 2024 , 06:45

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Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz voiced their concerns about the Chinese GP Sprint (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Max Verstappen led the complaints from Formula 1 drivers as the sport makes its long-awaited return to China.

It is F1's first visit to Shanghai for five years. Covid-19 saw the Asian country scrubbed from the annual race calendar but it is back now that China has lifted its stringent and controversial 'Zero-Covid' policy which heavily restricted public activities.

Lewis Hamilton is the defending champion - a novelty these days - having led a Mercedes one-two in the 2019 race. But the Silver Arrows' chances of repeating that success are extremely slim with Verstappen and Red Bull ruling the roost.

But the Dutchman, and several rivals, are not happy ahead of the Shanghai race. That this bumpy circuit which hasn't hosted F1 cars for years has been selected as the first Sprint weekend of the season is a source of great frustration ahead of the on-track action.

"I think it's not great," said championship leader Verstappen. "When you have been away from a track for quite a while you never know what you're going to experience. It would have been better to have a normal race weekend... We haven't been there in a while - only one practice session to get into it again. So I think it will be quite interesting."

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That view is shared by some of the Dutchman's closest rivals. Carlos Sainz, the only F1 race-winner so far this season other than Verstappen, is happy to be racing in Shanghai again - but less pleased about the lack of preparation he will get.

He said: "I think China as a race circuit is a great one. I think it's one of our favourite ones. It's just a great racing track... but I think it's not a good choice to put the Sprint [there] after a four or five years' absence. We also heard there is resurfacing going on."

And Verstappen's team-mate Sergio Perez concurred, adding: "I just hope there are no issues with the track. Any drain holes, any issues like that will put us out of sync. I think for the show, probably, 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."

Zhou Guanyu, though, has nothing negative to say ahead of his maiden F1 home race. The Sauber driver honed his racing craft while living in Sheffield but was born in Shanghai and, as the sport's first Chinese star, would love to score his first points of the year this weekend.

He said: "I couldn't be more excited to finally race on home soil in Shanghai. To be the first Chinese driver ever to compete in Formula 1 in China means a lot to me. It fills me with immense joy, pride and responsibility. I have fulfilled my dream."

Daniel Moxon