The Chinese Grand Prix has long been an elusive conquest for the reigning World Champion, who has yet to secure a victory on the Shanghai track, with a third-place finish marking his best result thus far.
Despite this, Max Verstappen anticipates that the upcoming Chinese Grand Prix will usher in a formidable test for Red Bull Racing, setting the stage for a potentially monumental weekend.
Verstappen currently commands the summit of the Drivers’ Championship standings, maintaining an advantage over his teammate Sergio Perez following a commanding triumph in Japan during the previous race.
As Formula 1 makes its return to the Shanghai International Circuit for the first time since 2019, all eyes are on the Dutch driver to see if he can break his streak of near misses on this track.
Adding to the intrigue of the weekend is the debut of the Sprint format, injecting a fresh dynamic into the racing spectacle. The Sprint weekend unfolds with a unique sequence of events, commencing with a solitary practice session on Friday afternoon.
This session sets the stage for the Sprint Shootout, a thrilling showcase of speed and skill, which is scheduled for Saturday morning. The action-packed weekend culminates with the traditional grand prix qualifying session in the afternoon.
Verstappen acknowledged the distinctive challenges that lie ahead, particularly with the introduction of the Sprint format.
“We are looking forward to China as it is going to present a challenge ahead of us, especially with it being a Sprint weekend,” Verstappen remarked, embracing the uncertainty and excitement that this new format brings to the table.
“As we have not raced at this track since 2019, and with the one practice session, it will be all about ensuring we have set the car up in the best way we can and managing our tyres.
“This added element creates more excitement for the fans, which is good, and the Team has been working hard to prepare.
“It is a great racing track in China and has a unique layout, with trickier corners and the long straights presenting lots of opportunities for overtaking. I have always loved driving at this circuit so we look forward to seeing what this weekend brings.”
In addition to Vettel’s historic achievement of securing the team’s inaugural pole position during qualifying, Red Bull Racing is on the brink of reaching a significant milestone.
With the current tally standing at 99, either Max Verstappen or Sergio Perez has the opportunity to propel Red Bull into esteemed company, joining Ferrari, McLaren, Mercedes, Williams, and Lotus as one of only six teams to achieve triple-digit pole positions.
Should Verstappen claim this honor, he will etch his name in the annals of Formula 1 history, following in the footsteps of Mika Hakkinen, who achieved a similar feat in 1999 by capturing the first five pole positions of the season.
Furthermore, a victory for Verstappen would mark his 53rd triumph since the previous Chinese Grand Prix, which notably served as the 1000th race in the World Championship.
As the upcoming race marks the 1106th event in the championship series, a Verstappen victory would underscore his dominance, with the Dutch driver having emerged victorious in an impressive 50% of all races since the last visit to China.
