The mind games of former world champion Damon Hill, who has wondered aloud whether one of his former teams might skip Saturday’s sprint race ahead of this weekend’s Grand Prix, Formula One is back in China.
Last seen at the Shanghai International Circuit in 2019, the premier class is finally making a comeback. As well as the Grand Prix on Sunday, China will host the first sprint race of the record-breaking 2024 season the day before. The teams have to qualify for the sprint race on Friday, with only one free practice session before the race, making it all the more difficult for the drivers as there is no data from the Shanghai circuit from previous years for the teams to rely on.
Big controversy in China over Sprint format
As Formula One makes its eagerly anticipated return to the Shanghai International Circuit for the first time in five years, the introduction of a sprint race to this weekend’s schedule has caused a mixture of concern and cautious optimism among teams and drivers.
The revamped format, which sees a sprint race on Saturday morning before qualifying, will be accompanied by relaxed parc ferme conditions, allowing teams to make adjustments to their cars after the sprint. This significant change to the structure of the race weekend is raising eyebrows throughout the paddock.
Sainz 2025 options narrow further
Limited preparation time and new challenges
The Chinese Grand Prix schedule features only one practice session on Friday, drastically reducing the amount of preparation time available to the teams. This reduction is particularly challenging given the absence of this venue in recent seasons, adding a layer of unpredictability, especially for tyre strategies and performance assessments.
Pirelli, the sport’s tyre supplier, faces its own challenges due to the lack of recent data on the Shanghai track conditions. “It’s like approaching a new track,” said Simone Berra, Pirelli’s F1 chief engineer. Concerns about the aging asphalt and its impact on tyre performance are paramount, with Berra noting the need to understand the track’s condition before the race.
Horner update on RBPT 2026 engine
Verstappen’s scepticism and cautious optimism
World Champion Max Verstappen expressed his reservations about the decision to include a sprint race this weekend, highlighting the challenges of adapting to a largely unfamiliar track in a compressed timeframe.
“I don’t think it’s good because when you haven’t been to a track for a while, you never know what you’re going to experience there, so it would have been better to have a normal race weekend,” said Verstappen, not hiding his scepticism about the revised format.
Despite his concerns, he conceded that the change “probably makes things a bit more exciting” for spectators, although he remains sceptical about the impact on driver and team performance.
Technical insights and preparations
The challenges are not limited to the drivers and their familiarity with the track. Technical aspects, such as the integration of 18-inch tyres introduced in 2022 and the potential for a “green and quite dirty” track surface, as described by Berra, will require teams to be exceptionally adaptable and quick in their assessments and strategy adjustments.
Red Bull motorsport consultant Helmut Marko echoed the sentiment of cautious preparedness, hoping to avoid the tyre wear surprises that plagued them at the Australian Grand Prix.
“The track was so aggressive that we were completely wrong in terms of tyre wear, which is one of our strengths,” explained Marko, hinting at a more informed approach to the Shanghai circuit.
Hamilton has “had his time” says F1 driver
Mixed reactions from the paddock
The introduction of the sprint race on a track notorious for its complexity and the potential for cold weather conditions adds another layer of difficulty. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz noted the track’s historic overtaking opportunities, but questioned the wisdom of the limited practice time under the new rules. His team-mate Charles Leclerc described the sprint race weekend as “very tricky”, emphasising the increased challenge but appreciating the test.
Team bosses such as Ferrari’s Frederic Vasseur and McLaren’s Andrea Stella acknowledge the level playing field offered by the new format, but are concerned about the unknowns, particularly the track surface and weather conditions.
“The biggest question mark for me will be the tarmac, because we know the layout of the track and we know the corners,” said Vasseur, highlighting the unpredictable elements that could affect the weekend’s race dynamics.
Williams to drop out of Spint?
According to former World Champion Damon Hill, this could have a particular effect on a team that has had a very difficult time in recent weeks – Williams. His former team was forced to field only one car at the Australian Grand Prix due to a lack of spare parts for Alex Albon’s chassis, which crashed in practice. At the last race in Japan, Albon’s car was also damaged by contact at the start and he crashed into the tyre wall.
There was much speculation as to whether Williams would be able to field only one car in China. For that reason alone, Hill would basically skip the sprint race, he revealed on the ‘F1 Nation Podcast’.
“Given that it’s a sprint weekend, the risk of something happening in China is now twice as high, isn’t it?” he said, adding: “And oh my God, I don’t want to be James Vowles, I don’t know what I would say to everybody now.”
Toto Wolff contradicts Hamilton assessment
Hill: Williams should just think about the race
The problem: In order to score points in the sprint race, Albon or the stumbling Logan Sargeant would have to finish at least eighth. An almost impossible task. So Hill would essentially be skipping the short event and the associated qualifying session on Friday.
“I mean, I’d probably say [as team boss], ‘I’ll tell you what, go out, do a couple of laps, bring the car back, park it and we’ll start from the back, just stay out of trouble,'” said the 1996 World Champion.
His advice to the Williams drivers: “Let’s just get to the race, let’s get to the [real] qualifying and forget about this sprint business.
Tenth place in Sunday’s Grand Prix would be enough for the first points of the season.
READ MORE: “Strange” Shanghai track as Verstappen predicts “chaos”
MORE F1 NEWS: Ocon split from Alpine, two teams linked to the Frenchman
The Renault Alpine factory team has been one of the most troubled teams of Formula 1 over the last few months. Things are not going well on the track and behind the scenes. Esteban Ocon has had enough and is reportedly considering a move on. Two teams have already been linked with the Frenchman.
Esteban Ocon’s current contract with Alpine expires at the end of the 2024 season. What happens next for the Frenchman is anyone’s guess. The current trend is clearly towards a farewell. The 27-year-old appears to have two possible destinations in mind…READ MORE ON THIS STORY
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
