Ticker Live Sprint Features: Who’s Fastest? / System 1

Formula 1 has been absent from China for five years, so there were many question marks before the start of its return to Shanghai, where the race structure made the work of teams and drivers even more difficult. Because everyone had only one hour of free training before qualifying for the sprint race, which will show how the balance of power will look on the long circuit of 5.451 km.

Lance Stroll was fastest in free practice, but it is believed that Red Bull Racing has yet to show how fast Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez can play in China. The two took 3rd and 4th place behind the leader from the Aston Martin team and McLaren talent Oscar Piastri.

His teammate Lando Norris finished 16th ahead of Mercedes drivers George Russell and Lewis Hamilton. The star drivers, like Fernando Alonso in 19th place, were completely restricted from using soft and medium hard tires and were therefore less competitive than the drivers who had only accelerated on the hard track.

However, Haas drivers Nico Hülkenberg and Kevin Magnussen finished well ahead as the new parts that the American racing team brought to Shanghai are having the expected impact so far. How the German and the Dane will be in the hunt for the best starting positions and who will ultimately create the best starting position for the first small race this year can be followed live here in the indicator.