F1 | Chinese GP: some parts of the track have been painted, not resurfaced

Il Chinese Grand Prix he is back on the calendar after five absences due to reasons covid, left from this very country. The path of Shanghai, one of the most beautiful ever designed by Hermann Tilke (exquisitely personal opinion, ed.) has always been very hard on tire grip, even if Pirelli he preferred to bring the C2, C3 e C4 for this weekend, so not the hardest possible choice. There have been many doubts as to whether the formula 1 decided to race in China with the format of Sprint Race, for a series of reasons, and among these there is also the resistance of the asphalt, built over a swamp and therefore subject to potholes, bumps and various disconnections.

Taking a quick lap of the track on Thursday, some drivers noticed how in certain points the surface had not been worked on, or rather, the usual work on it had not been done. resurfacing, rather it was applied over one paint, probably unusual, but it made most people frown. In the cover photo of this article, taken this morning in Shanghai, we notice what appear to be cracks (alternatively, trickles of applied paint) inside turn 12/13, the one before the very long third sector straight. Some of the protagonists spoke about it both in the press conference and in the various media sessions today, for example Charles Leclerc standard bearer of Ferrari.

“Yes, it's difficult to make predictions because I think it depends a lot on the type of paint used – Charles said. This may cause several problems, or there may be none at all, and I hope that this is the case, but for now it is difficult to say anything about it. I've only seen the photos, I haven't been around the track and I don't think it's the same everywhere, which might not be great. Before adding further comments, however, it will be better to ride and see how it feels, maybe that's okay, we'll find out tomorrow."

A detail of the Shanghai track taken this morning

“I agree with Charles – Ocon replied. I've never thought about it to be honest, also because I've only seen photos: it could be very slippery in the wet, maybe less grip, but we can't say until we drive. I was talking to him about it before: some time ago, when we raced go-karts, a kind of paint was put on the tracks and it was used to put the tire down and keep it in the corners, so there was a lot of grip. I don't expect that to be the case, to be honest."

He also talked about it Daniel Ricciardo, not present at the press conference but in a session with the media: “It seems that they painted the track, or in any case they did something to the asphalt. Apparently they put paint or something, so I don't know how the track will change, whether it will be the same or whether it will make us slide more. Perhaps this will change the behavior of the tyres, so it could also open up the race to different situations, both for overtaking and for strategies."