The last race at the Shanghai circuit happened in 2019. After that, COVID-19 caused the race to not take place in China for a long time.
The rules for Formula 1 cars have changed a lot since then. They now use 18-inch tires instead of the old ones.
The track itself might have changed, too, because it hasn’t been used for races for a while. But Pirelli, the tire company for F1, couldn’t send people to check the track before the race like they usually do for new or unused tracks.
The track was built on wetlands, so it’s possible that bumps may have formed over time. These bumps might not be easy to see, but the F1 cars will feel them when they race.
This time, the race weekend in Shanghai includes something new called a sprint weekend. The drivers will have practice on Friday, and then they’ll do qualifying for a shorter race on Saturday.
According to Berra from Pirelli, coming back to China feels like racing on a new track. He said, “It’s like a new circuit, honestly. Because we have new cars, new tyres, the 18-inch [rims].”
The track hasn’t been used for races for five years, so it’s likely to be quite dirty. Even though they’ll clean the track, it’ll still be challenging for the drivers.
Pirelli made choices about which tires to use based on what they think will work best. Berra said, “We made let’s say a middle range selection, so C2, C3, C4, which covers us from any possibility.”
He also mentioned that there might be some issues with the tires getting worn out quickly, especially the ones in the middle range. But he thinks they’ve chosen tires that can handle it.
