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F1 will race in Shanghai for the first time since 2019, and its addition to the calendar this year is particularly interesting as it is the first time the ground effects cars introduced from 2022 will race there.
The current generation of F1 machines are more sensitive to bumps, a common feature at the Shanghai circuit because the track is built on swamps where ground movements are common.
Realizing the need to focus more on bumps, repairs were made to different parts of the circuit to remove bumps that could cause problems.
Following an inspection of the track by the FIA which took place late last year, Shanghai worked with Herman Tilke’s engineering and architectural firm to demarcate and close off areas of the track which were worrying.
Despite efforts to address the bumps, F1 teams still face a lot of uncertainty heading into the event because there is little data on track surface characteristics.
Things are further complicated by the fact that it is a sprint race weekend, so teams will only have one practice session before beginning qualifying for the short event of SATURDAY.
Pirelli Formula 1 chief engineer Simone Berra explained recently that China was effectively being treated as a new event because previous knowledge was of little importance.
F1 last raced in China before the pandemic in 2019
Photo by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Images
“It’s like a new circuit, honestly,” Berra said when asked by Autosport about the return to China. “Because we have new cars, new tires, the 18-inch [rims].
“The track really hasn’t been used for five years, it was only used for one race a year or something like that. So it will be really green and quite dirty, although obviously they will clean the track.
“And we need to understand, even from the measurements on the tarmac before the event, how that has changed.
“In the past it was quite difficult in terms of micro and macro roughness. We need to understand how aging has taken place over the past few years.
“So not a lot of data, and even for the teams it will be a big challenge, not just for us, but even more likely for the teams.”
Shanghai officials are also working to build new grandstands to accommodate sold-out spectators, although some areas will not be ready in time for this year’s race.
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