After being cancelled for the past five years, Formula One is set to return to China this week with a controversial schedule that includes a sprint race on Saturday. However, with only one hour of practice time on a resurfaced track, drivers like Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz have raised concerns about the lack of preparation. The last Chinese Grand Prix in 2019 saw a Mercedes one-two victory, but with the uncertainties surrounding the unfamiliar circuit, the outcome this time remains uncertain.
Formula 1 Gears Up for Controversial Return to China Amidst Safety Concerns
After a five-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Formula One is making its much-anticipated return to China this week. The race will be held at the Shanghai Audi International Circuit, which has undergone a resurfacing since the last Grand Prix in 2019.
However, the return has been met with some controversy. Drivers, including reigning world champion Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz, have expressed concerns about the lack of preparation time. Teams will have only one hour of practice before the sprint race on Saturday, followed by another one-hour session before the main race on Sunday.
"It's not ideal, especially with the new tarmac. It's going to be tricky," said Verstappen.
Sainz added: "We're going there with so many unknowns. It's a bit of a gamble, to be honest."
The Chinese Grand Prix has always been a popular event on the Formula One calendar, but it has also been marred by controversy in the past. In 2014, Lewis Hamilton was accused of deliberately colliding with Nico Rosberg on the first lap. In 2017, Sebastian Vettel was handed a penalty for speeding under a red flag.
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