P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The story behind Shanghai’s "painted" F1 track surprise
Several drivers, including Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen, expressed confusion and skepticism about the track’s new appearance, which seemed like it was painted rather than resurfaced, leading to uncertainties about grip levels and tire behavior for the sprint qualifying weekend. The unique bitumen surface treatment applied to the track in Shanghai last year, commonly used in the US and Asia, resulted in the variably colored asphalt that appeared as if it had been painted, but it aimed to enhance track durability and grip characteristics. The treatment’s gradual wear throughout the F1 weekend could create inconsistent grip levels around different sections of the track, presenting potential challenges for teams and drivers to adapt quickly during limited practice time. Although reminiscent of the grip issues faced at Turkey in 2020, drivers like Carlos Sainz remained optimistic that the bitumen treatment would ultimately improve grip, offering a tough but not extreme challenge for the sprint event.
