Max Verstappen, the Dutch driver from 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 returning 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, increasing the uncertainties of the weekend. Verstappen sees this as an opportunity for chaos in Formula 1, but he remains optimistic and is not too worried about his team’s performance.
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 where he has never raced before with Red Bull colors. Without prior practice, teams will enter the weekend with limited knowledge of the track conditions, making it even more intriguing.
Ferrari has emerged as a strong competitor to Red Bull in the early stages of the 2024 season. Taking advantage of Verstappen’s retirement in Australia, Ferrari has narrowed 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 fiercer than last year, presenting a challenge for his team.
