Formula 1 drivers discovered an unexpected change to the track surface at the Shanghai International Circuit ahead of this weekend’s race.
While it initially appeared the track had been resurfaced, this is not the case. When teams arrived at the circuit they discovered a sealant had been applied to the 5.4-kilometre course.The work was done two years ago and it has given the track the appearance of being painted. Several drivers commented on the change ahead of the race weekend, saying they are unsure whether it will improve or worsen grip levels at the track.
McLaren driver Lando Norris said he had never seen such a procedure used before and he had “no idea” what affect it might have. “We have to wait and see, honestly.
Charles Leclerc said it could produce tricky driving conditions if the sealant has not been applied consistently across the whole track.
“It’s difficult to predict because I think also, it depends a lot on [what they used]. That can cause different issues, or have no issues at all. I hope it’s the latter that will be the case tomorrow.
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“For now, it’s very difficult to predict. I have only seen pictures, I haven’t gone around the track yet. I don’t think it’s the same everywhere, which also might not be great.
F1 has returned to Shanghai for the first time in five years as the Covid-19 pandemic. All bar six of the current drivers have raced at the track in F1 previously.
Leclerc said he is keen to return to the circuit. “I have only raced twice here but it’s always been a very, very interesting track.
“It’s a very nice track to drive on and a track where there are many, many different lines possible, especially in turns one, two and three. And all those long corners, they are very different ways of taking those corners, which makes it exciting for us.”
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BasCB (@bascb)
18th April 2024, 14:25
This “solution” with the sealant feels very “chinese specialty” to me. Let’s see whether it even holds up once cars put power on these parts of the track.
It could be patches of super grip, or super slip. Or hardly noticeable. I guess that was exactly what they meant about this being a bad choice to go for only a single session before qualifying and doing a sprint.
Asd
18th April 2024, 17:25
To me it sounds like it may have a PJ1 controversy potential like in Nascar and IndyCar.
sam
18th April 2024, 18:01
My 1st thought was Nascar as well. Don’t they complain about all broadcast?
BasCB (@bascb)
18th April 2024, 18:18
Yeah, I am somewhat worried about this going in the same direction, yeah.
anon
18th April 2024, 18:45
@bascb it looks like there are also circuits in the USA and Europe that have sometimes used sealant products for their track surfaces, so this does not seem to be particular to China. The main thing that seems to be unusual in this case is the fact that, with the circuit being unused for an extended period of time, you haven’t had other series wear away that sealant layer by the time that F1 cars have turned up.
As an aside, the reference that another poster has made to PJ1 has a certain appropriateness, as the Hockenheimring has used PJ1 for certain parts of the circuit – in particular, parts that are shared with the drag strip, as well as some of the run off areas, which ended up impacting both the 2012 and 2019 German Grand Prix.
Nick T.
18th April 2024, 21:39
Tofu track.
BTW, lmao at Alonso and the drivers in the background. It looks more like they’re on a forced death march than a track walk. I’d be wearing masks if I were them. One day of Shanghai air is like sleeping in the engine bay of a running 1970s Greyhound Bus.
Mr A
18th April 2024, 14:42
And they never told the FIA.
Lack of transparency – sound familiar??
S
18th April 2024, 15:05
They don’t have to tell the FIA – the circuit still meets Grade 1 specs.
isthatglock21
18th April 2024, 15:52
It’s work carried out last year following the inspection to regain the FIA grade 1 in May. FIA quote: “A bitumen paint has been used as a coating to preserve the tarmac to ensure the stone remains in the asphalt. It is expected to increase grip levels & protect the tarmac from long-term degradation”. Nothing odd about it for a track that’s been inactive for a while.
grat
18th April 2024, 19:34
There should never be a sentence “work carried out following inspection”. That’s backwards. Inspections should always follow work, not the other way around.
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
19th April 2024, 2:45
I agree that an inspection should be conducted after track work, but to suggest
is a nonsense.
“Sorry Mr FIA, I’d love to fix the things you pointed out, but we can’t as you have already inspected it”.
EffWunFan (@cairnsfella)
19th April 2024, 2:51
In case I was not clear, the statement from which you quote does not in any way suggest that an inspection wasn’t carried out after the work’s (or that it was, to be fair). However, the point of the statement was clearly to convey that the inspection highlighted work that needed to be done, and that work took place as a result. I don’t see what is wrong with such a comment, and I certainly disagree with the phrase you used that I quoted.
grat
18th April 2024, 19:32
Good thing it’s a sprint weekend and the teams have exactly one hour (barring the inevitable crash + red flag) to figure out the track surface.
MichaelN
18th April 2024, 20:18
It’s a great time to put those 135 million dollar budgets to work!
Anyway, it’s almost inevitable that, like pretty much every time F1 gets itself in a twist, it’ll be fine.
grat
18th April 2024, 21:49
And what expenditures would you recommend the teams make to maximize the fact that they have one hour, and a limited set of tires, to understand the new surface, and whether or not it’s suitable for F1 cars?
ferrox glideh (@ferrox-glideh)
18th April 2024, 23:04
Drama never hurts ratings. I imagine the best teams will solve problems quicker, as usual. I welcome the wrinkle.
Crawliin-from-the-wreckage (@davedai)
19th April 2024, 2:07
The photos are classics. Well worthy of Caption Competition.
Top. AJ told Cheever “keep turning left,” Think he meant then opposite lock”
Long March.
Fred again causing chaos erratic and potentially dangerous causing those behind to take avoiding action.
“AN” leading the way with notebook and pencil. “Toto” shrugs off broken elbow remounted bike to show Merc are still a force.