F1 set to make return to China

It’s been a while since Formula 1 last raced in China, five years to be exact. Back when they raced there in 2019, the landscape of the sport looked entirely different.

Lewis Hamilton was still atop the sport, while a young prospect named Max Verstappen was just starting to make a name for himself with five wins in his career. Fast forward to this weekend, and Verstappen sits at 57 wins in his career.

Additionally, many drivers in this weekend’s field weren’t even in F1 the last time they raced at the Shanghai International Circuit. Drivers like Zhou Guanyu and Oscar Piastri will have a huge challenge ahead of them this weekend as they have to learn a whole new track.

While many of the younger drivers in the field face the challenge of a new track, most of the drivers could potentially find themselves relearning the track this weekend.

Not only is the car they’re using now completely different from 2019 but the track is also built on marshland, meaning it has the potential to shift and develop new bumps in the track.

While crews have been working diligently to ensure the track is in perfect shape for the weekend, there will be differences in the surface, which will ultimately affect tire wear. Teams will have to pay extra close attention to the left front, as that’s the tire that takes the most damage during races here.

For the first time this weekend, the Chinese Grand Prix will see the field be set using the controversial sprint format. This newer format was not in use back when they raced here last, but will give the drivers a little bit of race experience before the actual grand prix.

However, before they take to the track in the sprint race, which sets the lineup for Sunday, the drivers will only have 60 minutes of practice beforehand. This sprint race will pose a huge learning curve for many drivers.

In terms of favorites in the race, I would look no further than Verstappen. Verstappen’s ability to adapt to new tracks is unmatched and the speed alone of the Red Bulls will more than likely propel him and teammate Sergio Perez to the front of the pack.

However, if Red Bull were to miss the setup on their cars, expect the Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to be ready to pounce. They have established themselves as the clear number two in the field, especially after Verstappen’s misfortune in the Australian Grand Prix.

This race has the potential to wreak havoc on those who don’t prepare adequately and could shake up the points standings. The race starts at 3 a.m. EST on ESPN.

Ethan Ellis is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, please email ece5133@psu.edu.