He sprint format is back and China is the first test of the season. After five years of absence due to pandemic restrictions, the Shanghai circuit He welcomed the drivers between the uncertainty of being able to get the cars ready with just one hour of prior practice and with the mission of adding points to their cause.
During the week, Verstappen expressed his disagreement with the choice of this venue to debut the format in the season. However, he later qualified and tried to highlight the advantages of the recent modifications that allow the strategy to be perfected throughout the weekend.
How did ‘Checo’ Pérez do in the sprint qualy at the Chinese GP?
In any case, the battle for classification surprised everyone with the rain and added excitement behind the wheel, although it was not a good day for the Red Bull drivers who were affected by the conditions. The pole winner was Lando Norrisfrom McLaren, followed by Lewis Hamiltonaboard his Mercedes, and Fernando Alonsowith Aston Martin.
For his part, Max Verstappen achieved fourth position on the grid and ‘Checo’ Pérez It will start from the sixth. “We were fast, setting very good times at the start. Unfortunately we couldn’t have that progression, we ran into traffic on our second lap and on the third attempt I went straight; It’s a shame, these are the conditions,” he told FOX after qualifying.
Pérez was disappointed because they were able to get better positions: “I think we had better pace to have been higher in the classification. The positive thing is that we have been competitive in any conditions; “We were there in the rain.”
Positions on the sprint grid
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)
- ‘Checo’ Pérez (Red Bull)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- Valtteri Bottas (Kick Sauber)
- Zhou Guanyu (Kick Sauber)
