The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League is about to begin, and many things have changed in Formula 1 since the last Chinese Grand Prix. The sport has faced a global pandemic, gained popularity through the Netflix program “Drive to Survive,” and witnessed a shift in dominance from one team to another. In 2019, Mercedes faced a tough challenge from Ferrari, but managed to regain its advantage and secure a comfortable title. On the other hand, Red Bull struggled with its new partnership with Honda. Mercedes has dominated the races, winning 77 of the last 122.
Since the last Chinese Grand Prix, there have been significant changes in team bosses. Only Toto Wolff of Mercedes and Christian Horner of Red Bull remain in their positions. Williams saw a change in leadership when Dorilton Capital acquired the team, resulting in Claire Williams stepping down. Alpine, formerly known as Renault, had Cyril Abiteboul as team principal. Racing Point, now Aston Martin, was led by Otmar Szafnauer. McLaren appointed Andreas Seidl as team principal in 2019, and he is now the CEO of the Sauber Group. Alfa Romeo team principal Frederic Vasseur is now at Ferrari. Haas had Guenther Steiner as team principal, but Ayao Komatsu took over in 2024. Toro Rosso, now AlphaTauri, was led by Franz Tost in 2019.
The identities of the teams have also undergone transformations. Toro Rosso became AlphaTauri in 2020, and Racing Point Force India became Aston Martin in 2019. Alfa Romeo partnered with Sauber in 2018, but will be taken over by Audi in 2026. Renault changed its name to Alpine in 2021, adopting a new color scheme.
The F1 fan landscape has changed significantly since the last Chinese Grand Prix. The introduction of “Drive to Survive” and the rise of social media have provided fans with more access to the championship. Many fans will be watching the Chinese GP for the first time, and even long-time fans will experience something new with the sprint race format.
The technical aspects of F1 have also undergone changes. Cars have been modified aerodynamically to reduce turbulence and improve overtaking. However, the expected gains have not been fully realized, and F1 is looking for new technical rules for improvements.
The Shanghai International Circuit has undergone repairs and modifications since the last race. The track was built on marshy land, which caused displacements over the years. Teams will have limited time on the track to adjust their cars due to the lack of free practice sessions.
There have been changes in the grid since 2019, with some drivers retiring and others making comebacks. The class of 2024 is comparable to the class of 2019, with some notable additions and departures.
Fernando Alonso’s return to F1 is a significant development since the last Chinese Grand Prix. He was absent in 2019, but made a successful comeback and signed a new contract with Aston Martin.
Alex Albon, Nico Hulkenberg, and Kevin Magnussen have had ups and downs in their F1 careers, but have managed to find their way back to the sport. Job security is a challenge for drivers outside the top teams.
The Chinese Grand Prix will feature a revised format with sprint races. This is the third iteration of the format since its introduction in 2021. Teams will have the opportunity to modify their setups between the sprint race and qualifying, but will have to commit to these changes without any practice sessions.
Zhou Guanyu was once China’s biggest promise for F1, but his progress has slowed down in recent years. It is still uncertain if he will have a future in the sport, and there are no other Chinese drivers on the horizon.
© 2024
ブラジルのドライバー、フェリペ・マッサがフォーミュラ1レースからの引退を発表しました。このニュースは、長年にわたりマッサのキャリアを追い続けてきたスポーツファンに驚きをもって受け入れられました。このドライバーは、フェラーリを含むいくつかのチームで競い、スポーツにおいて遺産を残します。
マッサは2002年にザウバーチームでフォーミュラ1キャリアをスタートさせました。彼はすぐに他のチームの注目を集め、2006年にフェラーリに雇われました。イタリアのチームとの時間の中で、マッサは世界選手権をほぼ獲得するシーズンを含む成功の瞬間を持ちました。
しかし、マッサのキャリアは困難な瞬間にも彩られていました。2009年、彼はハンガリーグランプリ中に重大な事故に遭い、数週間にわたりレースを欠場しました。それにもかかわらず、ドライバーはその決意を示し、トラックに戻って競い続けました。
フェラーリを離れた後、マッサはウィリアムズやフォーミュラEのヴェンチュリーチームなど他のチームで競いました。彼はまた、ル・マン24時間レースなどの耐久レースにも参加しました。マッサはフォーミュラ1で11勝を達成し、スポーツに重要な足跡を残します。
マッサの引退は、ブラジルのモータースポーツにおける時代の終わりを告げます。彼は国内で最も成功したドライバーの一人であり、新たな才能の世代に影響を与えました。マッサのファンは今、ドライバーのキャリアの次章がどうなるのかを熱望し、彼の将来の成功を願っています。
