P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Perez: Red Bull can be more resilient to graining after Melbourne
Red Bull remains the dominant team in 2024, but their performance in the recent Australian Grand Prix raised some doubts as Ferrari appeared stronger, especially with the heavy front graining issue affecting Red Bull. Max Verstappen’s early retirement hindered direct comparisons, while Sergio Perez finished fifth as Ferrari’s Sainz and Leclerc secured a 1-2 finish. Shanghai poses potential challenges for Red Bull, with lower temperatures and uncertainties over the track conditions possibly bringing back the tire graining problem. Teams will face limited practice time in the first sprint weekend, with Perez believing they are better prepared to handle the potential graining issue after learning from Melbourne. Verstappen mentioned setup changes made before Melbourne that felt promising, but his early exit prevented showcasing the improvements, emphasizing the differences in Shanghai’s technical layout from Albert Park.
