P1racenews AI automatic summary:
FIA still chasing answers over bizarre Shanghai F1 grass fires
During the first practice on Friday morning at the Shanghai International Circuit, a fire broke out on the grass inside Turn 7, leading to a red flag situation. The same section caught fire again at the end of the first sprint qualifying session, causing a brief delay in the start of SQ2. Initial analysis suggested that sparks from the cars were igniting the grass, but the fires were larger than expected, raising questions about the cause. Theories have emerged, including methane seepage from the swampy ground and chemical treatment of the grass, but a definitive explanation is still elusive. The FIA plans to conduct a more detailed examination to prevent further incidents during the race weekend and better understand the situation. The unexpected fire issue is a new challenge for Shanghai, particularly with the introduction of ground-effect cars this year, which generate more sparks.
