Formula One returned to China for the first time in half a decade this weekend meeting a number of surprises along the way. The first was the expected track resurfacing had not in fact taken place but a sealer had been ‘painted’ on to prevent further deterioration.
The result was the cars were 3-4 seconds a lap slower than when last here in 2019 but the reduced grip didn’t see tyre wear go to silly proportions. The newly confirmed contract extension for Fernando Alonso played out well for him and Aston Martin, as the Spanish maestro hauled his car into third place starts both in tyre Sprint and the Grand Prix.
Audi HUGE offer to Sainz
An unfortunate puncture resulted in damage to Alonso’s Aston Martin car forcing him to retire from the Sprint. Then in the Grand Prix the timing of a safety car scuppered Aston’s strategy for Fernando who was forced to use up valuable new soft tyres trundling around behind the safety car.
With Fernando nailed on to remain with Aston Martin, one of the options for the soon to be free agent Carlos Sainz is now closed. Paddock rumours also suggest if Mercedes opt for an experienced driver to replace Hamilton, Toto Wolff will look to Esteban Ocon who has been managed by them since his junior years.
Dr. Helmut Marko set tongues wagging on Saturday when he confirmed Red Bull have had discussions also revealed that Sainz but Audi are pushing Carlos hard and have made him an offer Red Bull “cannot match.”
What we didn’t learn from Marko is that in fact Red Bull have made an offer to Carlos to drive for them in 2025. Standing in for Martin Brundle of Sky, Nico Rosberg on the grid walk made a shocking assertion. The 2016 F1 world champion shared with the viewers he’d seen Carlos Sainz Snr in deep conversation with the Red Bull boss.
Perez playing the team game
The immediate reaction would be Sainz is being considered to replace Sergio Perez, who for much of last season struggled with his form. Daniel Ricciardo was widely believed to have been recruited by Red Bull to replace Checo, but his form too has been hit and miss and his fight for now is to establish himself ahead of his team mate.
On the grid walk, Ted Kravitz asked Rosberg: “Can Sergio [Perez] do to Max [Verstappen], what Lewis [Hamilton] did to Lando [Norris] in the Sprint yesterday?”
Hamilton had mugged Norris starting second in the Sprint but taking the lead through the first combination of turns. Perez was starting the Grand Prix alongside his team mate who was in pole position.
Nico Rosberg replied: “He can but he’s not going to do that because he’s not going to be racing for Red Bull anymore next year [if he does]!
Rosberg says RBR made offer to Sainz
“Because he’s in the midst of his contract negotiation, Sergio Perez needs to behave, especially against Max Verstappen.
“You know that they have an offer out to Carlos Sainz and I saw daddy Sainz speaking to Christian Horner yesterday because Christian Horner has apparently been a bit stingy on the offer.
“So, they’re trying to get a couple more million out of him!”
As it transpired, Perez was too cautious at the start of the Chinese Grand Prix, allowing Fernando Alonso to overtake him for P2 at the ‘lights out.’ This saw Max Verstappen disappear down the road establishing an unassailable lead before the first of the safety cars once again closed up the pack.
Marko confirms Vettel F1 return
Perez worse placed than in 2023
While Sergio’s mistake is another blot on his copybook, his form this season to date is currently worse than after five rounds last season. Checo then was 14 points behind his world champion team mate, but this year is already 25 points in arrears.
The wheels came off properly for Sergio in 2023 following the Miami Grand Prix where he claimed pole position and Max qualified poorly in P9. Despite losing a place at lights out, Max then cut through the field like a knife through butter overtaking his team mate to claim victory by over five seconds from Perez.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner fielding questions about the future co-driver for Verstappen in China repeated again that the drive was Checo’s to lose.
After being stacked behind Verstappen at his pit stop, Perez lost places to both Lando Norris and the Ferrari of Leclerc and while he passed the Monegasque driver with ease, Sergio couldn’t make inroads into Lando Norris and deliver a fourth 1-2 for Red Bull this year.
Former team mate slams Hamilton in China
Perez explains disappointing result
Although Perez managed to get ahead of Leclerc, he couldn’t make in-roads on Norris to deliver Red Bull its fourth 1-2 finish in five races.
“Unfortunately, we got the safety car and we lost two places,” Perez stated. “We did most of the race on the Hard [tyre].”
Perez was referring to the fact the hard tyre did not have the same performance as the medium tyre, although with just one hour of practice the F1 teams were uncertain which would prove to be the better race tyre.
“Once you start fighting like that in the early laps, then you lose the life of the tyre, it just goes off dramatically.
“At least we managed to get onto the podium again, but it would have been good to be one and two [in the order].”
F1 CEO casts doubt over future of Chinese GP
FIA members call for legal action against F1
The election of Mohamed Ben Sulayem as the replacement president of the FIA for the outgoing Jean Todt marked a break with the past as he became the first non-European to be elected to the role. Further with a background in rallying, Ben Sulayem is only the second president in the history of the FIA with no warning experience in Formula One.
Ben Sulayem was elected on an “FIA for members” ticket and was clear he stood for an organisation which was not primarily consumed with F1. Yet almost from the moment his victory was announced, the first Arab president of F1’s governing body has been at odds with the owners of the commercial rights to F1, Liberty Media…. READ MORE
I watched f1 since I was a kid ,and in all my 45 years watching it’s never being so boring. The FIA are a joke ,they all need sacking. This sport has been disassembled by there rules and regulations. There is definitely a which hunt to discredit our great world champion Lewis Hamilton, and by the way fia robbed Hamilton of that world title full stop ,with red bull shit in your pocket . Go back to the old racing way ,exciting, thrilling, edge of your seat . This sport needs a good shake up
I cannot agree more with Paul. (By the way Paul, I would use “Spell Check” – no offence my friend!) I accidentally found F1 in 1974 at Kyalami, South Africa. I was invited to watch a bit of motor racing! I saw Peter Revson (the heir the Revlon Empire) die in practice. Thank God for Jackie Stewart to: up the game of safety for the F1 and motor racing in general. I have been a fan ever since I visited S A. I did have a Vanwall model when I was 7! (1957) Yes, Paul, you are so right. Personally, I see Liberty Media as the culprit which has spoilt F1. Bring back Bernie! Or can we clone him? Seriously, even the F1 divers comment on the ridiculous regime! The final GP which robbed Sir Lewis Hamilton of his 8th World Championship was a debacle. Red Bull are not even a car loving company. The drink (I have tried it) is bad for a human being. The team is made up of egotistical individuals. It was fine whilst Dietrich was alive but the ethics of the company are, these days, in question. Give me a car company backed team any day, with great respect to Williams, who have the best ethics of any team. Thank you, TJ, for allowing my opinion to be published thus.