The Spint weekend brings with it a single free practice session that the teams can use to collect the first data on a track that is not new but is as if it were. China is in fact back on the calendar after 4 years of absence. There were many unknowns this weekend, especially linked to the track conditions. Let's see what happened during this only free practice session in China, remembering that the first qualifying sessions, the Sprint Shootout, will start at 9:30.
Regain confidence
In China, on the circuit of Shanghai The Sprint format makes its debut, which from this year includes the reopening of the parc fermé between the Sprint and the qualifying for the race. The 60 minutes of free practice are fundamental for teams and drivers to decide the set-up for the Sprint. Given the particular nature of the weekend, it is not surprising to see completely different jobs on the track considering that during this weekend each driver has two sets of hard tyres, four medium and six soft tyres.
The first to take to the track are the Saubers, the Alpines, the Haas and Lance Stroll. Red Bull takes to the track initially with the mediums unlike Ferrari which starts a completely different job. Mercedes, Alonso and Norris instead go with the hard tyres. Red Bull immediately set the best time, Verstappen improved with a 1:38.498. Ferrari seems to have a program of its own, it is 15th and 16th after the first 40 minutes. Aston Martin with Alonso immediately finds the rhythm to move within 0,011 seconds of Verstappen's first reference point. In the meantime, Perez ends up off the track but returns without problems and above all without apparent damage.
The red flag interrupts the pace
Just when we thought we had seen it all, a rather unusual red flag arrives to make us think again. “There is a fire inside Turn 7.” says Esteban Ocon. A large grassy area that caught fire. No one knows for what reason, maybe sparks. However, the marshals set to work to turn it off and after a few minutes the session starts again.
For now, Red Bull has carried out the classic work which saw Verstappen and Perez alternate a flying lap and a cooling lap. Hulkenberg surprises, paying only 3 tenths to the RB20 at this stage. After half an hour Ferrari takes the lead and does so with both drivers on red tyres. A session with alternating work therefore, with simulations of long runs and fast laps but with only one compound. Various gravel excursions. In fact, Sainz and Norris also explored this particular terrain, returning without any particular problems.
The updates brought by Alpine seem to work. The new fund was initially intended for Miami and, although it was anticipated, only Ocon has this new specification. The Frenchman placed himself in fifth position in his attempt.
The final simulations and the unknowns for the qualifications
With 15 minutes to go Sargeant starts the qualifying simulations. The Red Bulls return to the track with the soft tires and regain the lead of the standings with Max Verstappen. However, Max's leadership does not last long. This was in fact stolen from him by Oscar Piastri, with a time of 1:36.629. A small first revenge for the Australian who has so far always been behind his teammate in the four races held. Plates Verstappen and Perez are enclosed in just 0,06 thousandths. But the real surprise comes with Lance Stroll who achieved a time that was three tenths better than the rest of the grid.
- Stroll, Aston Martin
- Plates, McLaren
- Verstappen, Red Bull
- Perez, Red Bull
- Hulkenberg, Haas
- Magnussen, Haas
- Ocon, Alpine
- Albon, Williams
- Ricciardo, R.B
- Bottas, Sauber
A session like this cannot be interpreted too much precisely because we will see two completely different races. Sprint will provide further data to the teams to prepare for Sunday's race. If we were able to put our hands back on the set-up we could see some great evolutions. But the feeling is that at least for these two sessions, Sprint Shootout and Sprint in China, we can venture some rather exotic predictions, such as the standings of free practice. All we have to do is meet you at 9 for the qualifications!
