Welcome to the Return of F1 to Shanghai: A New Challenge Awaits
After a long absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Formula 1 is finally returning to the Shanghai International Circuit for the Chinese Grand Prix. And while the track may be familiar to drivers and teams, there are some significant changes that will make this race a whole new challenge.
Firstly, the F1 technical regulations have undergone major changes, including a switch to 18-inch tyres. This means that the cars will handle differently on the track, and teams will have to adapt their strategies accordingly.
But it’s not just the cars that have changed. The track itself has also undergone some alterations over the past few years. However, unlike other new or rarely used circuits, Pirelli has not been able to send engineers to assess the track in advance. This adds an extra element of uncertainty and excitement to the race.
One potential issue that drivers and teams will have to contend with is the possibility of bumps on the track. As the Shanghai circuit was built on swampland, there is a chance that bumps have emerged over the years that may not be immediately visible. This will be a true test for the ground effect F1 cars and their ability to handle any unexpected obstacles.
Adding to the challenge is the fact that this will be the first sprint weekend of the 2024 season, with only one practice session before qualifying for the sprint event. This means that teams will have limited data to work with, making it even more crucial for drivers to quickly adapt to the track.
“It’s like a new circuit, honestly,” said Berra, Pirelli’s head of F1 and car racing, when asked about the return to China. “The track was really not used in five years, it was just used for one race per year or something like that. So, it will be really green and quite dirty, although obviously, they will clean the track.
“And we need to understand even from tarmac measurement pre-event how it has changed. In the past, it was quite rough in terms of both micro and macro roughness. We need to understand how ageing has gone in the last years.
But despite the challenges, Berra remains confident in the tyre compound choices that Pirelli has made for the race. While they were unable to send engineers in advance to study the track, Berra believes that the middle-range selection of C2, C3, and C4 tyres will cover all possibilities.
However, he does acknowledge the potential for graining on the C3 and C4 tyres, but believes that the C2 tyre will be more resilient. This means that teams will have to carefully manage their tyre wear and strategy to avoid any issues during the race.
Summary: A New Challenge Awaits at the Shanghai International Circuit
After a long absence, Formula 1 is finally returning to the Shanghai International Circuit for the Chinese Grand Prix. With significant changes to the technical regulations and a lack of pre-event track assessment, this race will be a new challenge for drivers and teams. The ground effect F1 cars will have to navigate potential bumps on the track, while teams will have limited data to work with during the sprint weekend. But despite the challenges, Pirelli remains confident in their tyre compound choices and believes that the middle-range selection will cover all possibilities. It’s sure to be an exciting and unpredictable race at the Shanghai circuit.
