RED BULL IN A CHINA STROP
Verstappen not happy with track as race returns to Shanghai
MAX VERSTAPPEN is leading the complaints from Formula 1 drivers as the sport makes its longawaited return to China this weekend.
It is F1’s first visit to Shanghai for five years and Lewis Hamilton is the defending champion – a novelty these days – having led a Mercedes onetwo in the 2019 race.
The Silver Arrows’ chances of repeating that success are extremely slim with Verstappen and Red Bull ruling the roost.
But the Dutchman and several rivals are not happy ahead of the Shanghai race.
That this bumpy circuit has been selected as the first sprint weekend of the season is a source of huge frustration.
“It’s not great,” said championship leader Verstappen.
“When you have been away from a track for quite a while you never know what you’re going to experience. It would have been better to have a normal race weekend.
“We haven’t been there in a while - only one practice session to get into it again.”
Carlos Sainz, the only F1 race-winner so far this season other than Verstappen, is happy to be racing in Shanghai again but also less pleased about the lack of preparation.
He said: “China as a race circuit is a great one. It’s one of our favourite ones. It’s a great racing track.
“But it’s not a good choice to put the sprint there after a four or five years’ absence. We also heard there is resurfacing going on.” Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez added: “I hope there are no issues with the track. Any drain holes, any issues like that, will put us out of sync.
“For the show, probably, it’s a good thing but from the preparation side it’s definitely going to be really hard.”
Zhou Guanyu, though, has nothing negative to say ahead of his maiden F1 home race.
The Sauber driver honed his racing craft while living in Sheffield but was born in Shanghai and – as the sport’s first Chinese star – would love to score his first points of the year this weekend.
He said: “I couldn’t be more excited to finally race on home soil in Shanghai.
“To be the first Chinese driver ever to compete in Formula 1 in China means a lot to me.
“It fills me with immense joy, pride and responsibility. I have fulfilled my dream.”