Max Verstappen, the Dutch driver for Red Bull Racing, believes that the addition of the Sprint race format will bring more unpredictability to the Chinese Grand Prix weekend. The Shanghai International Circuit has not hosted an F1 race in five seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions. However, China is making a return to the calendar this weekend with the inclusion of the Sprint race configuration, which has been revised for 2024. This means that teams will have only one hour of practice on a new track surface, adding to the unknowns of the weekend. Verstappen sees this as an opportunity for chaos in Formula 1, but he remains optimistic and not too concerned about how his team will perform.
Verstappen admits that rearranging the schedule to hold the Sprint sessions before qualifying for the grand prix makes more sense. He believes that the new sprint format is better because it allows teams to work on the car and seems more logical. Verstappen’s teammate, Sergio Perez, also expects an interesting weekend as he races on a circuit he has never raced on before in Red Bull colors. With no practice beforehand, the teams will be entering the weekend with limited knowledge of the track conditions, making it even more intriguing.
Ferrari has emerged as a strong contender for Red Bull in the early stages of the 2024 season. Taking advantage of Verstappen’s retirement in Australia, Ferrari has closed the gap in the Constructors’ Championship. However, Verstappen acknowledges that Ferrari has been competitive and that Red Bull needs to be at the top of their game to win races. He believes that the competition is closer than last year, which presents a challenge for his team.