Drivers say F1 “shouldn’t take the risk” with Sprint format on return to China

After a four-year hiatus, Formula 1 is set to return to the Shanghai International Circuit in two weeks for the first Sprint weekend of the 2024 season, with Max Verstappen, echoed by his fellow Japanese Grand Prix podium finishers, warning that the Sprint weekend may not be “the smartest thing to do” on return to China.

Following a rare DNF in Melbourne, the Japanese Grand Prix was a much-welcomed shift back into normality for Max Verstappen.

It was an all-round dominant weekend for the Dutchman who is eyeing down his fourth consecutive world title in 2024, with his teammate Sergio Perez pulling his weight for Red Bull which helped to secure the team a 1-2 finish in Japan. 

In addition to this, Verstappen also ticked off another record, equalling Michael Schumacher’s pole-to-win record at Suzuka as he claimed his third victory at the iconic track.

However, Verstappen, and indeed the other 19 drivers on the grid, will be taken out of their comfort zones as they head to China for the first time since 2019, with only one hour of practice permitted to reacquaint themselves with the Shanghai International Circuit. 

The Chinese Grand Prix will run as the first of six Sprint weekends of the year, meaning drivers will have just 60 minutes to come to terms with the track before going all out in the Sprint qualifying session on Friday afternoon.

“I think it’s not great, let’s say like that, to do that,” Verstappen said in the post-race press conference yesterday.

“When you have been away from a track for quite a while, I think you never know what you’re going to experience, right? 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 yeah, purely from a driving perspective, performance perspective of the sport, I think it’s not the smartest thing to do. 

“We’ll see what we get there.”

Race winner Max Verstappen shares the podium with Sergio Perez Carlos Sainz in Japan. Image: Peter Fox/Getty Images // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool.

Backing his teammate up, Perez brought up the unwanted memory of the track issues in Las Vegas last November, recalling the delays caused by a loose drain cover that cost the grid precious time on the new track.

“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,” Perez said.

“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, for example, with Red Bull so it’s going to be quite a lot to do in a single practice.”

Third-place finisher Carlos Sainz also confirmed that the will be a lot of knowns for Ferrari to sort out in the limited practice time, adding that the recent track resurfacing of the Shanghai International Circuit could lead to an “Istanbul 2.0”.

“I think there’s two different topics,” an out-of-contract Sainz said.

“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.

“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.

“We also heard there’s been resurfacing going on, so Istanbul 2.0 may be on the cards!

“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.”

Although the format has left the drivers unsure, it definitely hasn’t turned down their excitement for the long-awaited return to China.

“I mean, I always loved driving there,” Verstappen said. 

“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.”

Only time will tell how much of an impact the reduced running will have on both racing and qualifying performance for the Formula 1 drivers and teams, with the grid heading to China in two weeks’ time.

The Chinese Grand Prix weekend kicks off across the 19th to 21st of April, with Sunday’s main event taking place at 5:00 PM, AEST.

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