Formula 1 is ready to make its long-awaited return to the world’s largest automotive market this weekend, ending a five-year absence. The Chinese Grand Prix is back on the F1 calendar after being suspended due to the country’s COVID-19 policies. This means that the Shanghai circuit will once again host the ground-effect era cars, posing a challenge for most teams, especially in terms of tire degradation. However, the return of the Chinese GP has been seen as a positive step in reducing the overall impact of F1.
The importance of racing in China cannot be overstated. As the country with the largest automotive market and the second largest economy, Formula 1 sees this as a crucial opportunity to increase its popularity. Team principal Toto Wolff expressed his excitement for the return to the Shanghai circuit, where his team previously emerged victorious. He believes that this race weekend will be a fantastic event for both teams and fans.
The Chinese GP will also mark the debut of the new sprint race format, adding an extra layer of excitement to the event. With only one practice session to adjust their cars, teams will face a unique set of challenges. Wolff acknowledged that the weekend will be interesting and full of unknown situations at the Shanghai circuit.
Although the second parc fermé implemented will improve the pace of the Chinese weekend, Wolff admitted that the limited practice time will put pressure on teams to quickly find the right setup. Despite these challenges, the entire race weekend promises to be exciting for fans. All eyes will be on the local hero as he competes in China for the first time, and Mercedes will be determined to bounce back from a series of disappointing races and secure valuable points.
