2024 Formula 1 Preview & Review.

[Fortitude]

Lance Stroll tops the timesheets in sole practice session for Chinese Grand Prix.
It wasn't an entirely smooth day with a small fire breaking out at Turn 7, causing a brief red flag.
19 Apr 2024
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

Lance Stroll headed the order in FP1 at the Chinese Grand Prix. Lance Stroll set the pace in the only practice session at this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix. With the sprint format making a return, teams have just 60 minutes to set up their cars ahead of the sprint shootout.

Had it not been for traffic on his final run, it would have been likely that Lando Norris topped the order. Norris was 0.4s up on Piastri’s benchmark before encountering a number of cars before the back straight.

Behind the top two was Max Verstappen, 0.3s shy of Stroll’s top time in FP1. Sergio Perez continued his strong form, within a tenth of Verstappen. The Haas duo were fifth and sixth respectively with Nico Hulkenberg leading the way.

‘Lance Stroll tops the timesheets’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104702...ese-grand-prix


Chinese Grand Prix Free Practice 1 - Results
19/04/2024 at 05:44
Michael Delaney
F1i.com

2024 Chinese Grand Prix - Free Practice 1 results
Pos Driver Team Time Gap Laps
1 Lance Stroll Aston Martin 1:36.302s 21
2 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:36.629s + 0.327s 24
3 Max Verstappen Red Bull 1:36.660s + 0.358s 25
4 Sergio Pérez Red Bull 1:36.690s + 0.388s 24
5 Nico Hülkenberg Haas 1:37.101s + 0.799s 23
6 Kevin Magnussen Haas 1:37.118s + 0.816s 23
7 Esteban Ocon Alpine 1:37.213s + 0.911s 23
8 Alexander Albon Williams 1:37.229s + 0.927s 19
9 Daniel Ricciardo RB 1:37.238s + 0.936s 25
10 Valtteri Bottas Sauber 1:37.530s + 1.228s 24

‘Free Practice 1’;

https://f1i.com/news/505507-chinese-...1-results.html


Chinese Grand Prix 2024 – Free Practice 1 Results
The session was the only practice runs the teams had available ahead of Sprint Qualifying for the Sprint Race
19 April 2024
By John Smith
Total Motorsport

Lance Stroll led the first free practice session of the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix, outpacing McLaren‘s Oscar Piastri and Red Bull‘s Max Verstappen at the Shanghai International Circuit, which returns to the Formula 1 calendar after five years. The session was critical due to its timing ahead of the first Sprint Qualifying of the season, emphasizing the importance of adjusting quickly to the 5.451km track with varied speed corners.

During the practice, a range of strategies was employed with Pirelli’s hard, medium, and soft tyres, before a brief interruption caused by a trackside fire at Turn 7. Post-resumption, a notable incident involved Lewis Hamilton claiming he was pushed off track by Lando Norris, resulting in Hamilton receiving a black-and-white flag for crossing the pit entry line.

‘Free Practice 1 Results’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...ice-1-results/


CHINESE GRAND PRIX: F1 FREE PRACTICE 1 RESULTS
F1 returned to China for the first time in five years; after a long break away from the track, the drivers will be looking to reacquaint themselves ahead of race five of this 24-race calendar
April 19, 2024
Oliver Brindle

Free Practice 1 gets underway: The Alpine of Esteban Ocon was the first car out on the softs, and the session was underway; the Sauber pairing of Valtteri Bottas and Zhou Guanyu followed the Frenchman. The opening laps saw Gasly jump to the top of the timesheets with a 1:40.679, but it wasn’t long before Verstappen knocked him off the top spot, becoming the first driver to enter the 1.39’s with a 1:39.497. Midway through: Hamilton was shown a black and white flag for crossing the pit lane entry line following some on-track action between the Brit and Oscar Piastri.
Lewis Hamilton locks up into the final turn and runs off into the pit lane entry ��#F1 #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/Wk79iff0gs
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 19, 2024

The halfway mark saw a Ferrari one-two at the top, with Leclerc setting a 1:38.130 with his Spanish teammate .252 behind him. However, both Prancing Horses were on the soft compound. The two Red Bulls followed in third and fourth place on the mediums, with Lando Norris’s McLaren rounding out the top five.

Final classification: The Aston Martin of Lance Stroll set the quickest time as Stroll, Piastri, Verstappen, Perez and Hulkenberg rounded out the top five. The top 10 was Stroll, Piastri, Verstappen, Perez, Hulkenberg, Magnussen, Ocon, Albon, Ricciardo, Bottas.
FP1 CLASSIFICATION
Stroll tops the only practice session of the weekend ��
Next up �� #F1Sprint qualifying #F1 #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/dvUe0oCg0s
— Formula 1 (@F1) April 19, 2024

‘F1 FREE PRACTICE 1’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/ch...ice-1-results/


F1 Chinese Grand Prix 2024 Free Practice 1 – highlights
Follow all the action on the Total Motorsport live blog as teams and drivers hit the Shanghai International Circuit for FP1 at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix
19 April 2024
By John Smith
Total Motorsport

Welcome to this Total-Motorsport.com live blog for Free Practice 1 at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix, coming to you directly from the paddock at the Shanghai International Circuit as the 2024 Formula 1 season continues. This session offers a first glimpse into the teams’ preparations and strategies, setting a crucial groundwork for the race weekend.

And we go green again
That red flag period was short after the fire was put out and we go back to on track action.

Red Flag
The grass is on fire by the apex of Turn 7!!
Bandera roja. Se está quedando la hierba en T7. ��#f1 #ChineseGP pic.twitter.com/sYyFEAW6j9
— Albert Fabrega (@AlbertFabrega) April 19, 2024

‘Free Practice 1 – highlights’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...ee-practice-1/

[Fortitude]

Lando Norris spoils Lewis Hamilton party at Chinese GP as F1 stewards get involved.
Lewis Hamilton thought he had secured a fairytale pole for the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint but, after deliberation, Lando Norris' deleted faster time was reinstated.
19th April 2024, 09:33
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror

Lando Norris will lead an all-British front row at the start of the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint after he pipped Lewis Hamilton to pole. Hamilton thought he had set the fastest time of the session but then Norris leapfrogged him. But it looked as though the McLaren racer was going to lose that time as the F1 stewards deleted it for exceeding track limits.

However, it wasn't long before Norris' name was back at the top again. The lap was reinstated after the stewards realised that the track limits infringement had taken place on a different lap, meaning there was nothing wrong with the time that secured pole for the short-form Shanghai Sprint.

‘Lando Norris spoils Lewis Hamilton party’;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...orris-32623395


Chinese GP: Sprint Qualifying Results
Full results from the Sprint Qualifying from the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai International Circuit.
19 April 2024
by Mat Coch

Pos Num Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Diff
1 4 Lando Norris McLaren 1:36.384 1:36.047 1:57.940
2 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:37.181 1:36.287 1:59.201 1.261
3 14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 1:36.883 1:36.119 1:59.915 1.975
4 1 Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing 1:36.456 1:35.606 2:00.028 2.088
5 55 Carlos Sainz Ferrari 1:36.719 1:36.052 2:00.214 2.274
6 11 Sergio Perez Red Bull Racing 1:36.110 1:35.781 2:00.375 2.435
7 16 Charles Leclerc Ferrari 1:36.537 1:35.711 2:00.566 2.626
8 81 Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:36.542 1:35.853 2:00.990 3.050
9 77 Valtteri Bottas Sauber 1:37.112 1:36.056 2:01.044 3.104
10 24 Zhou Guanyu Sauber 1:37.544 1:36.307 2:03.537 5.597

‘Sprint Qualifying Results’;

https://speedcafe.com/chinese-gp-spr...fying-results/


Lando Norris rides rain and fire to take chaotic Chinese GP sprint pole
A fire halted SQ1 at the 2024 Chinese GP and rain covered the entire second half of the session as Lando Norris took pole
19 April 2024
By Adam Dickinson
Total Motorsport

Lando Norris took the latest of pole positions as carnage ensued in sprint qualifying, with a rain-soaked SQ3 coming after the first session was red-flagged due to a fire breaking out on-track.

Meanwhile the rain caught George Russell out, as Mercedes‘ underwhelming season got even worse when his first lap was poor and the ever-increasing downpour prevented him from getting a second chance to improve.

Russell was only four-hundredths away from home favourite Zhou Guanyu, who sent the grandstands into raptures by making it into SQ3 and went on to finish 10th. In the final session, Verstappen, Norris and most notably Charles Leclerc all lost control early on with the Ferrari slamming into the crash barriers but somehow able to continue.

‘Zhou Guanyu, who sent the grandstands into raptures by making it into SQ3 and went on to finish 10th’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...alifying-pole/


F1 commentators left shocked by never-seen-before moment happening twice at Chinese Grand Prix
• Published: 9:14, 19 Apr 2024
• Jake Lambourne
talkSPORT

Sky Sports commentator David Croft was left just as shocked as those watching on when the red flag was brought out at the start of session. He said: "I don’t think I have ever, ever seen grass catch fire by the side of a Formula 1 track. It’s a very small grass fire at the moment."

Pressed by 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg on how believes the grass caught fire, he remarked: "I would not even like to begin to speculate on that one." He continued: “I have no idea how that would have happened.”

"Unless of course Nico, a spark from underneath the car from the titanium blocks has just caught on a bump or something and sent the sparks showering into the side of the track, and that's what ignited it."

‘F1 commentators left shocked’;

https://talksport.com/sport/1834836/...ctice-session/


Nico Rosberg says 108-race driver could get first F1 win at Chinese Grand Prix
Fri 19 April 2024 09:00
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Nico Rosberg suggests one driver could spring ‘surprise’ at Chinese Grand Prix. Speaking on Sky Sports F1 ahead of the sprint shoot-out, Rosberg said we should keep an eye on McLaren driver Lando Norris this weekend. After finishing third at the Australian Grand Prix last month, Norris holds the record for most podium finishes without a win (14).

But Rosberg was impressed with how the Briton performed in Friday’s sole practice session. Norris may have finished in 16th, a couple of seconds off the ultimate pace set by Lance Stroll in the Aston Martin, but it was a mixed-up session with teams carrying out a wide variety of run plans.

‘Could get first F1 win’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/nic...se-grand-prix/

[Fortitude]

Verstappen hunts down Hamilton for straightforward Shanghai sprint race win.
The championship leader used DRS along the back straight to close up on the Mercedes driver before passing him at the hairpin, going on to win by over 13 seconds.
20th April 2024, 4:50
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans

Max Verstappen won the first sprint race of the 2024 season in Shanghai after chasing down and passing Lewis Hamilton to take victory. Sergio Perez claimed the final podium position in third after prevailing in a multi-car battle involving him, the two Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz Jnr and the Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso, who dropped out of the race after a puncture.

Hamilton led ahead of Alonso in the early laps, with the Aston Martin sitting inside a second of the leader until lap four, when Hamilton managed to escape DRS range. Verstappen caught and passed Alonso on the seventh lap, having 12 laps to make up just under two seconds to Hamilton ahead. However, Verstappen was soon on the back of the Mercedes, helped by Hamilton locking up into the hairpin on lap eight. Verstappen used DRS on the next lap to close up on the leader down the back straight before out-braking Hamilton into the hairpin to take the lead.

‘Verstappen hunts down Hamilton’;

https://www.racefans.net/2024/04/20/...rint-race-win/


2024 Chinese Grand Prix – Sprint race results (Shanghai)
20 Apr 2024 4:37 AM
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

2024 Chinese Grand Prix Sprint results (Shanghai)
1. 1. Max Verstappen Red Bull 19 Laps
2. 2. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes +13.043
3. 3. Sergio Perez Red Bull +15.258
4. 4. Charles Leclerc Ferrari +17.486
5. 5. Carlos Sainz Ferrari +20.696
6. 6. Lando Norris McLaren +22.088
7. 7. Oscar Piastri McLaren +24.713
8. 8. George Russell Mercedes +25.696
9. 9. Zhou Guanyu Sauber +31.951
10. 10. Kevin Magnussen Haas +37.398

‘Sprint race results (Shanghai)’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/2024-c...sults-shanghai


Chinese GP: Huge Sprint win for Verstappen over Hamilton
20/04/2024 at 04:42
Andrew Lewin
F1i.com04:51

Max Verstappen pulled out a winning margin of 13s in Saturday's Sprint race in Shanghai, despite the Red Bull not getting to the front until halfway through the 19-lap event.

Lewis Hamilton claimed his best result of any race this season in second. The Mercedes took the lead at the start from pole sitter Lando Norris, who was forced wide at the first corner and ended up losing multiple positions.

Fernando Alonso looked set to take the remaining podium place but suffered a puncture when challenged by Carlos Sainz, which opened the door for Sergio Perez to take third instead by the finish.

‘Huge Sprint win’;

https://f1i.com/news/505697-chinese-...-hamilton.html


Red Bull’s Max Verstappen overcomes battery issues to win Chinese GP Sprint
April 20th, 2024 2:06 pm
Fox Sports from Fox Sports
Fox Sports (Australia)

Red Bull champion Max Verstappen has won the Chinese Grand Prix Sprint at Shanghai International Circuit, extending his lead on the F1 standings.

Starting at fourth on the grid, the Dutch driver flew past Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton on the ninth lap to take the lead, finishing 13 seconds ahead of his competitors with Hamilton and Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez joining him on the podium.

“That’s the best result I’ve had in a long time,” Hamilton said after the event.

‘Max Verstappen overcomes battery issues’;

https://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsp...83d5cf38301c1c


Chinese GP: Max Verstappen pounces on Lewis Hamilton mistake to win the Sprint
20 Apr 2024 4:39 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Max Verstappen pounced on a mistake from Lewis Hamilton to close up on the Mercedes’ rear wing before sliding through to take the lead and the win at the opening Sprint of the season in China.
Hamilton held on to second place ahead of Sergio Perez while pole-sitter Lando Norris was a disappointing P6 after a mistake of his own against Hamilton on the opening lap cost him positions.

Lewis Hamilton challenged Lando Norris for the lead, drawing alongside the pole-sitter who ran wide at Turn 2 as he tried to defend the position. That allowed Fernando Alonso through into second place ahead of Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz with Norris down in seventh.

Having pulled out a 1.5 seconds advantage over Alonso seven laps into the 19-lap Sprint, Hamilton found himself chased by Verstappen who used DRS to pass the Aston Martin driver to run second. A mistake from Hamilton at the hairpin allowed Verstappen to close right up on his rear wing and with DRS he took the lead on lap nine at Turn 14. With clear air ahead of him, he put two seconds between himself and Hamilton within the space of a lap.

‘Max Verstappen pounces on Lewis Hamilton mistake’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/chines...nt-race-report

[Fortitude]

Max Verstappen roars to Chinese GP pole as Hamilton sinks to new low.
Max Verstappen will start on pole for the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton’s wretched start of the 2024 season continued in qualifying in Shanghai.
20 April 2024
By Joe Krishnan
Total Motorsport

The Red Bull driver completed a 1-2 to secure the team's 100th pole position in China for Sunday's race. The Dutchman clinched his fifth consecutive pole and continued his perfect record in 2024 qualifying after finishing ahead of Sergio Perez, who beat Fernando Alonso at the checkered flag after a fine lap from the 42-year-old.

Lando Norris joined him on the second row in fourth ahead of Oscar Piastri in fifth, with the McLarens beating the Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who were sixth and seventh respectively, while George Russell will start from eighth. It was a disastrous session for Mercedes star Hamilton, however, with the 39-year-old paying a heavy price for an error on his final run in Q1, meaning he will start from down in 18th.

Q2 was brought to a halt when Sainz caught the gravel on the final turn and spun his Ferrari into the barrier, although the Spaniard was fortunate not to sustain any substantial damage to his SF-24 other than a broken front wing.

‘Max Verstappen roars’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...sinks-new-low/


F1 starting grid: What is the grid order for the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix?
20 Apr 2024 9:22 AM
Henry Valantine
PlanetF1.com

F1 starting grid: 2024 Chinese Grand Prix
1 Max Verstappen, Red Bull
2 Sergio Perez, Red Bull
3 Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin
4 Lando Norris, McLaren
5 Oscar Piastri, McLaren
6 Charles Leclerc, Ferrari
7 Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
8 George Russell, Mercedes
9 Nico Hulkenberg, Haas
10 Valtteri Bottas, Kick Sauber

‘F1 starting grid’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/f1-sta...ese-grand-prix


Max Verstappen dominates Chinese Grand Prix qualifying as Lewis Hamilton left red-faced
Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton were hoping to repeat their Sprint qualifying results in this session that decides the grid for the Chinese Grand Prix, though Max Verstappen wants to continue his pole streak
20th April 2024, 09:25
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror

Max Verstappen took a predictable pole for the Chinese Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton suffered a "seriously painful" Q1 exit. Hamilton's mistake and subsequent exit was the main story from Q1. Home hero Zhou Guanyu also made an error which meant he could settle for only 16th, much to the disappointment of the passionate Shanghai fans.

Those mistakes gave a reprieve to Perez, who also struggled and was only 15th fastest in that first part of qualifying. He survived, but Zhou, Hamilton, Kevin Magnussen, Yuki Tsunoda and Logan Sargeant were not so lucky.

The drama continued into Q2 as Carlos Sainz span and made contact with the barriers. His front wing was ripped off but otherwise no damage appeared to have been done and, as the session was red flagged so the tyre wall could be repaired, he was able to go back to the Ferrari garage for a once-over and head back out on track when qualifying resumed.

‘Max Verstappen dominates’;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...-grid-32630631


Christian Horner: Perez driving for Red Bull future
Sergio Perez qualified second for the 2024 Chinese GP alongside Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen after improving in the sprint race
20 April 2024
By Adam Dickinson
Total Motorsport

Christian Horner praised Sergio Perez‘s recovery after a chastening 2023 Formula 1 season, as the Mexican completed a Red Bull front-row lockout on the occasion of the teams’ 100th pole position at the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix. “You guys have a tendency to write him off but he’s doing a great job,” Horner told Sky Sports F1.

“He’s an important part of the team, it’s about working collectively, I think he’s got a great engineering support around him, he feels comfortable. He knows he’s out of contract at the end of this season so he’s driving for his future, he responds to pressure in the best possible way, certain drivers respond to pressure and others wilt.”

“He’s come into this season with a new frame of mind, he’s relaxed and driving the car really well, not focussing on his teammate, it’s a different approach and I think in the first five races we’ve seen really strong performance from him. So he’s driving well, confidence is growing and hopefully he can convert that into another good result tomorrow.”

‘First five races we’ve seen really strong performance’;

https://www.total-motorsport.com/f1-...d-bull-future/


‘We’re not giving up’ – Alonso ‘proud’ of Aston Martin after taking P3 in qualifying for Chinese Grand Prix
20th April 2024, 11:41
Formula One - Official Site

Fernando Alonso was thrilled to claim P3 on the grid during qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix, with the Spaniard bouncing back from a disappointing outcome to his Sprint race earlier in the day.
After being forced to retire from the Sprint following a puncture sustained during a battle with Carlos Sainz – for which Alonso was later handed a 10-second time penalty along with three penalty points – the Aston Martin driver seemed raring to go again when it came to qualifying.

“We didn’t give up, we kept pushing all through the lap and we set a good lap time. I think the car did improve since this morning, we made a few set-up changes, and let’s see tomorrow if we can translate that into points.” Teams are now allowed to make changes to their cars after the Sprint and prior to qualifying in line with new parc ferme rules. On whether this proved particularly beneficial for him, Alonso said: “I think it’s the same for everybody.”

‘We’re not giving up’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Rcb8sczGpI8Aai


Lewis Hamilton suffers "seriously painful" Chinese GP embarrassment as Toto Wolff stews
Lewis Hamilton was second quickest in qualifying for the Sprint in Shanghai, but will start the Chinese Grand Prix itself all the way back in 18th after a wretched session
20th April 2024, 08:34
By Daniel Moxon Senior F1 Writer
The Mirror

By the time everyone had finished their final laps of Q1, Hamilton was marooned down in 18th place. He asked race engineer Peter Bonnington if he had made it through and apologised to his Mercedes team after being told that he hadn't.

In commentary, Nico Rosberg said it would be "seriously painful" for his former team-mate. And Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was seen stewing in the team garage as he watched the footage of Hamilton's error, clearly surprised by the mistake.

‘Toto Wolff stews’;

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/formu...fying-32630747


‘Wow’: Nico Rosberg baffled by ‘painful' performance from one driver at Chinese Grand Prix
Nico Rosberg far from impressed by one driver after ‘seriously painful’ display
Sat 20 April 2024 10:00
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Nico Rosberg criticised one driver after what he saw as an ‘unnecessary’ mistake in qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix. As part of a new format, the session took place just hours after the sprint race. 2016 F1 world champion Rosberg feels Hamilton took too great a risk on the brakes at the end of the lap. In his eyes, it was an ‘unnecessary’ error.

“Wow,” he said. “That is painful. That is seriously painful. In 18th position. Honestly, you know that the wind is coming from the back there. He’s had a great lap until then. It was really unnecessary to push the limit there so much. As a seven-time world champion, that’s a mistake that probably should be avoidable.”

Lewis Hamilton brought crashing down to Earth after F1 sprint heroics. Hamilton has endured his worst-ever start to an F1 season but he produced a glimpse of his finest form on Friday. The 103-time race-winner qualified second for the sprint race as he held his own during a late downpour.

‘Nico Rosberg baffled by ‘painful' performance’;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/nic...inful-display/

[Fortitude]

Verstappen overcomes two Safety Car restarts to win Chinese Grand Prix.
Verstappen extended his lead in the championship by securing 33 points from the Shanghai weekend, finishing 13 seconds ahead of Norris by the end of the race.
21st April 2024, 10:03
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans

Verstappen led from the start and held his lead through two mid-race Safety Car periods. Perez had run in second place behind his team mate for the first half of the race but dropped down to fourth when rivals took advantage of the Safety Car to fit hard tyres to run to the end of the race.

Perez managed to pass Leclerc to take back fourth place but could not hunt down Norris for second. Leclerc finish four seconds from the Red Bull driver in fourth with Sainz ten seconds behind his team mate in fifth. George Russell was sixth ahead of Fernando Alonso in seventh, who pitted late in the race after taking the Safety Car restart on soft tyres. Oscar Piastri was eighth ahead of Lewis Hamilton in ninth, with Nico Hulkenberg claiming the final point in tenth but is under investigation.

‘Verstappen overcomes two Safety Car restarts’;

https://www.racefans.net/2024/04/21/...se-grand-prix/


2024 Chinese Grand Prix - Race results
21/04/2024 at 09:55
Andrew Lewin
F1i.com

Full race results from the Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai, round 5 of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
2024 Chinese Grand Prix - Race results
Pos Driver Team Gap Stops
1 Max Verstappen Red Bull 56 laps - 1:40:52.554s 1
2 Lando Norris McLaren + 13.773s 2
3 Sergio Pérez Red Bull + 19.160s 2
4 Charles Leclerc Ferrari + 23.623s 1
5 Carlos Sainz Ferrari + 33.983s 1
6 George Russell Mercedes + 38.724s 2
7 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin + 43.414s 3
8 Oscar Piastri McLaren + 56.198s 2
9 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes + 57.986s 2
10 Nico Hülkenberg Haas + 60.476s 2

‘Full race results from the Chinese Grand Prix’;

https://f1i.com/news/505964-2024-chi...e-results.html


Norris splits Red Bulls in incident-filled F1 Chinese Grand Prix.
The ease with which Verstappen won the sprint race the day before despite starting fourth foreshadowed a walkover, and that proved accurate - but Red Bull was denied 1-2 as circumstances of the race dropped Sergio Perez behind McLaren's Lando Norris and he couldn't recover the place.
Apr 21, 2024
by Valentin Khorounzhiy
The Race

Formula 1 championship leader Max Verstappen dominated a double safety car-interrupted Chinese Grand Prix in F1's first full-distance race at the venue since 2019. And despite an error for Norris that cost him a second or so at one point, Perez ultimately had no answer at all for the Briton - who celebrated his 15th podium in F1 in second place, finishing 13.7s behind Verstappen.

Perez and Leclerc completed the top four, with Leclerc's team-mate Carlos Sainz 10 seconds back in fifth. Russell was the lead Mercedes in sixth after mounting half-a-challenge against Sainz late on, while Alonso took seventh. The two-time champion had gambled on the soft tyre during the race interruption, which meant he had to pit again during the final stint of the race.

He was sixth when Bottas' car failed, cleared Sainz for fifth, but dropped out of the points once he pitted. But with the use of fresher tyres Alonso naturally made his way back through, including a sequence in which he had a huge moment catching the gravel at the final corner and very nearly replicating Sainz's crash from qualifying, only to straighten it out, keep up the momentum and overtake Lewis Hamilton and Oscar Piastri in very quick succession after that.

‘Max Verstappen dominated’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/n...se-grand-prix/


Verstappen charges to victory over Norris and Perez in action-packed Chinese GP
21st April 2024, 10:03
Formula One - Official Site

Max Verstappen converted pole position into victory in a Chinese Grand Prix full of incidents and overtakes, leading home McLaren’s Lando Norris and Red Bull team mate Sergio Perez to make it four wins from five races so far this season. Verstappen led the vast majority of a strategic encounter at the Shanghai International Circuit that featured a Virtual Safety Car and two full Safety Car periods, the Dutchman keeping his cool at the front as the drama unfolded behind him.

Norris was one of three drivers, along with Ferrari pair Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, to make just one pit stop, having benefitted from the VSC and Safety Car phases to jump Perez for second position, which he managed to hold to the finish. Leclerc and Sainz followed in fourth and fifth respectively, despite some concerns from the Monegasque in the closing stages that his tyres would not be able to make it to the end, with George Russell leading Mercedes’ charge en route to sixth.

‘Verstappen charges to victory’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...5tEQt62umIGhob


Max Verstappen explains late Chinese GP concerns after worried radio call
21 Apr 2024 10:08 AM
Thomas Maher
PlanetF1.com

Max Verstappen got on the radio in the closing laps of the Chinese Grand Prix, asking his team to pay close attention to his tyres. Verstappen was assured over team radio that “everything looked OK”, as the Dutch driver explained his concerns immediately after the chequered flag. “You hear always noises a little bit,” he said.

“Of course, I’ve had it in the past that I’ve retired quite close to the end and then there was a bit of debris, I think, from a car so I passed it [at] 300[kph] and, when the tyres are getting cold and old, it’s very easy to puncture them and I just wanted to double-check.” Asked to explain his dramatic moments during the Grand Prix, Verstappen’s list was short.

“I locked up in the second restart into [Turn] 6, a little bit. So that was not ideal,” he said. “Then I threw a tear-off away which I think I could hear on the intake. It was flapping around and hitting my helmet. So I don’t know where it ended up. With two laps to go, I think I drove over a little bit of debris before Turn 14. So then a little bit scary, because it’s easy to have a puncture at high speed when you drive over carbon.”

‘Max Verstappen explains… …worried radio call’;


https://www.planetf1.com/news/max-ve...ese-grand-prix


Lando Norris breaks F1 protocol after brilliant second place finish in Chinese Grand Prix
Published: 10:41, 21 Apr 2024
Anton Stanley, Deputy Editor of talkSPORT.com
talkSPORT

Lando Norris put in a stunning performance at the Chinese Grand Priz - but then made a uncharacteristic mistake. But after taking the flag, Norris made a big error. The British star brought his car into the pit lane in parc fermé instead of leaving his car in the specified spot on the gird where all those who made the podium were meant to park.

And it was noted by eagle-eyed Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz, quickly informing his team of a rules infraction, especially if Norris reversed at any point in the pit lane. "Norris was in Pit entry," said the Spaniard. Xavier Marcos Padros, his race engineer, replied: "Copy. He did a mistake. He should have gone to the grid."

‘Lando Norris breaks F1 protocol’;

https://talksport.com/sport/1837293/...se-grand-prix/


Mercedes explain problem which held Lewis Hamilton back at F1 Chinese Grand Prix
Mercedes detail the reason for Lewis Hamilton's P9 finish in Shanghai
21 Apr 2024
James Dielhenn
Crash.Net

Mercedes have explained that an F1 Chinese Grand Prix to forget for Lewis Hamilton was due to tyre temperature. Hamilton came home in P9 in Shanghai after recovering from starting from 18th.

“Lewis struggled with rear tyre temperature all race, likely as a result of the balance of the car. He benefitted from the Safety Cars but ultimately was unfortunate not to take P8 at the end, not quite able to get into Piastri’s DRS range.”

“It’s been a weekend of contrasts. Likely the sweeping changes made after the Sprint didn’t help but we were able to race competitively against the McLarens, Ferraris, and the Aston Martin of Alonso.” Hamilton experienced a topsy-turvy weekend at the fifth round of the 2024 F1 season.

‘Problem which held Lewis Hamilton back’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104724...ese-grand-prix

[Fortitude]

Another race, another victory for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen at Chinese GP.
The three-time defending champion won the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday starting from pole, his fourth victory in five races this season and his 23rd in the last 27 extending through last season.
11:57 Sun, 21 Apr 2024.
Associated Press

SHANGHAI (AP) — Another Formula 1 race. Yet another victory for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen. Only a brake failure last month at the Australian GP in Melbourne probably kept him from sweeping all five.

Verstappen trailed for only a few laps following a pit stop. Lando Norris of McLaren was about 14 seconds behind Verstappen in second — the eighth time he has been No. 2 in his career as he still seeks his first victory. Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez was third.

The Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc, in fourth, and Carlos Sainz rounded out the top five, holding off Mercedes driver George Russell and Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin in sixth and seventh, respectively.

‘Another race, another victory’;

https://apnews.com/article/max-verst...29af650db906b2


Max Verstappen 'on another planet' to rest of F1 with Chinese GP win
12:47 Sun, 21 Apr 2024.
The National

Max Verstappen continued his relentless domination of Formula One after once again destroying the field to win the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday. Verstappen was denied a 100 per cent points-scoring weekend when Fernando Alonso picked up the bonus for the fastest lap after a late switch to fresh tyres.

“He’s [Verstappen] been on fantastic form all weekend but the team as well have been outstanding this weekend, to win the sprint, to get the front row, the pole position and the front row lockout for the race, and a one, three in the race,” Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said.

“Max is on another planet at the moment, his form is absolutely fantastic … he’s totally at one with the machine and he has this unbelievable feel and empathy with the car and the grip and the conditions, and the confidence in himself. He has the ability to understand the tyres, when they need to be pushed, when they need to be saved and he’s got this incredible racing brain, it’s almost unhuman what he’s capable of.”

'On another planet';

https://www.thenationalnews.com/spor...hinese-gp-win/


MAX DOMINATES TO WIN HIS FIRST CHINESE GP: 'AMAZING WEEKEND'
21 April 2024
Stefan Meens
Verstappen.nl

“It felt amazing. We were quick all weekend but the changes we made yesterday made the car even better to drive”, said Max. “It was a delight to drive, regardless of the tyres we were on. This track is tough on them, especially the front left. It did mean I had to manage it, but we were still able to gain four or five tenths every lap.”

Two safety cars in the middle of Grand Prix, did not deter Max from holding on to the lead. “The restarts were good and the car was just on rails. I could do with it what I wanted. These kinds of weekends are amazing to be a part of. It’s fantastic.”

'AMAZING WEEKEND';

https://news.verstappen.com/en/article/5439/


Norris thrilled with ‘surprise’ Chinese GP podium as he reveals pre-race Ferrari bet
11:45 Sun, 21 Apr 2024.
Formula One - Official Site

Lando Norris expressed his delight – and surprise – at finishing on the podium during Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix, while also revealing that he had made a bet over “how far behind” McLaren would be relative to Ferrari. Norris started the race fourth, behind the two Red Bull drivers and Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin, but emerged from an action-packed encounter in second position, splitting race winner Max Verstappen and third-placed Sergio Perez.

Asked to reflect on the performance, Norris said: “Surprised, so I’m very happy! I’m happy for the whole team, they deserved it… good pit stops, today just worked out. “I don’t know why, I really wasn’t expecting it to be the kind of race we had today, but I got comfortable, managed the tyres a lot, which was a much easier task than what I had [in the Sprint] yesterday. I could just push. The car felt great and I felt comfortable, so it’s a good day, good points and another podium [after finishing third in Australia]. I’m very happy.”

Norris revealed a pre-race ‘bet’ as to how far McLaren would finish behind Ferrari – only for Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz to cross the line 10 and 20 seconds behind him respectively. “I made a bet to how far behind the Ferrari we would finish today!” Norris smiled. “I thought 35 seconds and I was very wrong by that. I’m happy to be wrong with myself from my own bets, but it’s a good day for everyone.”

‘Lando Norris expressed his delight’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...EUn2ixYfeFiNrp


“I prefer not to comment” - Carlos Sainz reacts to Charles Leclerc’s Lap 1 defence
Tension continues to brew at Ferrari following an aggressive Lap 1 defence from Charles Leclerc at the Chinese Grand Prix.
21 Apr 2024
Connor McDonagh
Crash.Net

Reflecting on the events of the opening lap, Sainz felt it was “clear” that Leclerc’s defending cost both of them crucial track position. “I prefer not to comment,” Sainz told Sky Sports F1. “But it’s obviously quite clear that it cost us both two positions so it helped neither of us.

“Given what our pace was today, better than P5 was impossible. We had a poor start with the situation there in turns one and two that cost both cars two positions, from then on we were just playing catch-up. We had to box very early for the hards and then we had to one-stop from lap 18, something like this and just went forever on the hard tyre which we never going to go much more forward on.”

“At least we saved P5, which given the pace of the car this weekend and the decisions we took, the situation at the start it was the maximum we could achieve.”

“I prefer not to comment”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104725...-lap-1-defence


Toto Wolff’s troubling verdict after ‘not good enough’ result in the Chinese GP
21 Apr 2024 11:40 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Having proclaimed a month prior that the W15 was “not a bad car”, Toto Wolff has changed his tune and told Ted Kravitz after a lacklustre result in China that is “not an OK car”. Mercedes team principal Wolff admits that’s “not good enough”.

“I think considering where we put the cars altogether, the drivers and the team was not in a good position today,” he told Kravitz. “Not good enough overall. P6 I think it was, and P10 (ninth, ed), but it was lacking pace. So we’ve got to dig deep. We’ve got something coming from Miami that looks like a good step. Let’s see where that brings us.”

Asked if the W15 was ‘fundamentally, now that we have a decent number of races under our belt, an OK car’, Wolff accepted: “No, no, it’s not an OK car. I think we can see what the mistakes were on the car. I think we wanted to go a bit more aggressive to see if it is something that is so different that we need to do on the car. You can see Lewis today who took it on, that was maybe a step too far.”

‘Toto Wolff’s troubling verdict’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/toto-w...ult-chinese-gp


Horner slaps down Wolff’s Verstappen comments: Stop ‘focusing on drivers that are unavailable’
Christian Horner has snapped back at Toto Wolff after the Austrian's latest comments on Max Verstappen, with the Mercedes team principal seemingly putting on a charm offensive to win the Dutch driver over.
21 April 1:50PM
Samuel Coop & Ian Parkes
RacingNews365

Verstappen has a contract until 2028 at Red Bull, but given the power struggle and recent events within the team, there has been speculation he could leave - with Wolff looking to a seat in 2025 following Lewis Hamilton's departure.

"I'm going to think carefully about what I say here," Horner said to media including RacingNews365 when he was told of Wolff's latest remarks. "Have you spoken to Max about this? Because if you speak to Max – and it’s not about pieces of paper at the end of the day, we know that he has a contract to the end of 2028 – it’s about how he feels in the team and the relationship he has in the team and the way he’s performing.”

"I don’t think Toto’s problems are his drivers; I think he’s probably got other elements that he needs to be focusing on rather than focusing on drivers that are unavailable."

‘It’s about how he feels in the team and the relationship he has in the team’;

https://racingnews365.com/horner-swi...appen-comments

[Fortitude]

Mark Hughes: Superb Norris stunned Ferrari - and McLaren.
The mystery was much more about Lando Norris’ superb second position, his McLaren comfortably defeating Sergio Perez’s Red Bull and both Ferraris in a straight fight. But we’ll come to that in a moment.
Apr 21, 2024
by Mark Hughes
The Race

When the safety car then came out, bunching the field up and obliging Red Bull to pit both cars so as to make their second stops without a disastrous loss of places, Verstappen rejoined still leading but Perez had dropped back behind Leclerc. Passing the Ferrari for a second time took so much from his tyres that he was not able to pose a threat to Norris despite there being 17 laps left.

“Once you’re fighting it’s game over for the tyres,” Perez said. “You use so much of your tyre that they never come back. I paid the price but it was the only way I could get by Charles.” Had he not been so far behind Verstappen at the first stops, he’d conceivably not have exited the second stops behind Leclerc and might therefore have been able to catch and attack Norris.

But he’d been delayed in that first stint by having to get by a briefly starring Fernando Alonso, who’d sliced into second at the start, even taking a nibble at Verstappen. It took five laps for Perez to find a way by the Aston Martin as its tyres wilted. By which time Verstappen was 5.5s up the road.

‘The mystery’;

https://www.the-race.com/formula-1/m...laren-stunned/


McLaren were ‘simply stronger’ than Ferrari in China – Sainz
Posted on 21st April 2024, 14:34
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans

Carlos Sainz Jnr says Ferrari were not as strong as McLaren over the Chinese Grand Prix weekend after the team finished fourth and fifth. It was the first time a McLaren has finished ahead of both Ferraris in a grand prix in 2024 and Sainz believes it was a fair reflection of the relative performance of the two teams in Shanghai.

“I think this weekend they’ve been stronger – simple as that,” Sainz said. “I think McLaren, at this kind of circuit, they’ve shown better pace than us. And even on top of that, we qualified behind [them] and if we get in trouble in the first lap, then there’s no chance we’re going to beat them. So, we need to do better next time.”

‘Simply stronger’;

https://www.racefans.net/2024/04/21/...n-china-sainz/


Nico Rosberg questions attitude of ‘glass half-empty’ Lando Norris
Nico Rosberg left impressed by Lando Norris' driving in China - but not his attitude.
21 Apr 2024
Lewis Larkam
Crash.Net

Analysing McLaren’s performance in China during Sky Sports F1’s coverage, Rosberg urged Norris to have more “positivity”. “Lando is a glass half-empty guy,” the 2016 world champion said.

“Pre-race betting that Ferrari are going to beat them? I don’t know. I don’t think that’s the best approach, in general. Positivity would be helpful. Nevertheless, he had a phenomenal drive today. He drove so well. Together with Max, the driver of the day. Consistency, there was no degradation on his car.”

“The comparison to his teammate Oscar Piastri who was really struggling with degradation. Big difference, there. So a phenomenal drive.” Teammate Oscar Piastri managed to hold off Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes to claim eighth despite picking up damage to his car.

‘Attitude of ‘glass half-empty’ Lando Norris’;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104726...y-lando-norris


Norris “surprised” with second after betting Ferrari would be 35s ahead
Posted on 21st April 2024, 12:29
Written by Will Wood
RaceFans

Lando Norris admitted that he was “surprised” to have secured a podium finish by taking second place in the Chinese Grand Prix. “I’m very happy. I’m happy for the whole team. They deserved it, good pit stops” Norris said. “Just today worked out – I don’t know why.”

“I really wasn’t expecting it to be the kind of race we had today, but got comfortable. I could manage the tyres a lot, which was a much easier task than what I had yesterday. And I could just push. The car felt great and felt comfortable. So good day, good points, and another podium – very happy.”

“I made a bet how far behind the Ferraris we would finish today,” Norris said. “I thought 35 seconds and I was very wrong by that. So I’m happy to be wrong with myself and my own bets, but a good day for everyone.”

‘Betting Ferrari would be 35s ahead’;

https://www.racefans.net/2024/04/21/...-be-35s-ahead/


Norris startled by podium: 'I was ready to go home early!'
21/04/2024 at 11:36
Andrew Lewin
F1i.com

McLaren driver Lando Norris was the first to admit that clinching second place in Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai had exceeded all his expectations for the weekend.

"Good day, good points and another podium," he said after being voted the official F1 Driver of the Day for his performance. "I'm very happy, I'm happy for the whole team they deserve it," adding: "Today just worked out.”

"I don't know why I really wasn't expecting it to be the kind of race we had today," he admitted. "I just wasn't expecting today at all. I got everything ready to go home early and not be on the podium!”

‘Exceeded all his expectations’;

https://f1i.com/news/505989-norris-s...ome-early.html


Norris: "Nothing pointed" to McLaren's shock China F1 form
Apr 22, 2024, 11:18 AM
Filip Cleeren
Motorsport.com

Norris took pole for the sprint and while he went off at the start and struggled with tyre wear throughout the 19-lap event, the Briton did excel in Sunday's grand prix. Norris said the team is still as surprised as anyone at its China pace, with no indications the weekend would be a lot better than first thought.

"We were just quicker than we thought. The limitations, the places we expected to struggle probably a lot more, we didn't struggle as much in," Norris said. "These longer corners, like Turn 1, have always been a big weakness for us. And part of Turn 1 was probably better than we're expecting.”

“We're still learning about the car and the tarmac is quite odd, maybe that played into our hands a bit more. We're not making it up. We're giving our honest opinion on where we want to be. I think if we were to go into a weekend and we knew we were going to be strong, we'd say so.”

‘The team is still as surprised as anyone’;

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/n...form/10602049/

[Fortitude]

Christian Horner “write Sergio Perez off” claim met with “I recommended him!”
“Far from writing him off, I seem to remember recommending him to you, at one point!”
20 Apr 2024
James Dielhenn
Crash.Net

Red Bull boss Horner had teased Sky Sports’ pundits about previous criticism of Perez. The under-pressure Perez has claimed three P2 finishes in four grands prix this year, and qualified for Sunday’s F1 Chinese Grand Prix in second behind teammate Max Verstappen. “You guys have a tendency to write him off but he’s doing a great job,” Horner told the Sky Sports studio.

1996 F1 champion Hill replied to Horner: “Far from writing him off, I seem to remember recommending him to you, at one point!” Horner addressed Perez’s upturn in form: “He is an important part of the team. It’s about working collectively. He has great engineering support around him. He feels comfortable. He knows that he’s out of contract so he’s driving for his future.”

“He responds to pressure in the best possible way. Some drivers respond to pressure, and others wilt.” Horner said to Hill: “It reminds me of your 1995 and 1996 seasons. Over that winter, you certainly came back a different driver in ‘96. It is similar with Checo. He has gone away, wintered well, changed a few things in his approach, and he is driving well.”

“Doing a great job”;

https://www.crash.net/f1/news/104717...ecommended-him


How Perez seems to have secured his Red Bull future
April 21, 2024
Andrew Maitland
Grandpx.news

Sergio Perez’s prospects of continuing with Red Bull Racing are becoming increasingly strong. With his current agreement due to expire at the end of 2024, discussions around an extension are timely. This discussion coincides with Carlos Sainz, a key player on the driver market, also exploring new opportunities.

As negotiations progress, it seems the primary hurdle in finalizing a new contract for Perez is his preference for a commitment that spans beyond a single year. Despite potential complications, the team’s current synergy and performance are robust, indicating little desire to disrupt the status quo.

Dr Helmut Marko, while discussing the situation, confirmed, “Checo’s second place proves that this year is his strongest season to date. That is of course very important for the future.” However, Marko acknowledged the consideration of Sainz, stating, “Of course, you always want to have the best people in the team. But with Checo’s performance and the harmony, it’s just right.”

‘Continuing with Red Bull Racing are becoming increasingly strong’;

https://grandpx.news/how-perez-seems...d-bull-future/


‘Today I wanted more’ admits Perez after P3 in Shanghai
21 Apr 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

He may have notched up another podium finish for Red Bull in China, but Sergio Perez admitted afterwards he was aiming higher than the third step on race day in Shanghai.

‘Today I wanted more’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...377386256.html


Sergio Perez's father speaks out on Red Bull star's relationship with Max Verstappen
Sergio Perez's father has commented on the relationship between the two Red Bull drivers following a strong start to the 2024 campaign.
13:57, Sun, Apr 21, 2024
By Harry Smith
Daily and Sunday Express

Antonio Perez, father of Red Bull star Sergio Perez, has insisted that his son’s relationship with team-mate Max Verstappen is ‘much better’ at the moment after some flickers of tension during the early stages of the 2023 campaign.

“They are two tigers in the same cage is what I have told them. And if you ask me, who would you like to see Checo team up with, I would say the best in the world. So however it is today Checo is the second best in the world in Formula One.”

Perez has also benefitted from worrying less about his Red Bull colleague’s performance. The 34-year-old made a slew of errors throughout the middle part of the 2023 season as he tried desperately to cut the deficit to Verstappen. However, in 2024 he returned with a fresh attitude.

‘Sergio Perez's father speaks out’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...appen-Red-Bull


Ted Kravitz renews ‘built for Max Verstappen’ debate with Sergio Perez off the pace in China
22 Apr 2024 11:15 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Spotted in conversation with Helmut Marko in China, Ted Kravitz says the Red Bull advisor may be asking Sergio Perez why he couldn’t challenge Lando Norris but that there is “no doubt” as to the reason. But while questions may be asked, potentially even by Marko who Kravitz spotted chatting to Perez after the race, about Perez’s inability to match Verstappen’s pace, the Sky reporter believes it’s a very simple answer.

“The RB20 is “built” to suit triple World Champion Verstappen’s “on the nose” driving style, Kravitz claimed. “Sergio had no pace to chase down Lando for P2,” Kravitz said in his Ted’s Notebook after the race. I don’t think he burnt his tyres out too soon, but it just sort of stayed… maybe it was a dirty air thing, maybe it was a hard tyre thing. But maybe also it was Lando driving brilliantly, which undoubtedly he was.”

“But when you consider that Max finished 13.7 seconds ahead of Lando Norris then I guess it’s a valid question that Helmut, old Helmut, has got for Checo as to why he wasn’t in the same car able to close and overtake the McLaren. Listen, there is no doubt, to answer the question as to why Max can do what he does with this car and Checo can’t, there is no doubt that the Red Bull RB20 is built around Max Verstappen. That we know.

‘Ted Kravitz renews ‘built for Max Verstappen’ debate’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/ted-kr...ull-built-rb20


2024 Chinese Grand Prix: Red Bull pull off impressive double stack pit stop for Verstappen and Perez
21 Apr 2024
Formula One - Official Site (Video)

Red Bull were running 1-2 in the Chinese Grand Prix when they decided to pit leader Max Verstappen and second placed Sergio Perez on the same lap, with the crew pulling off an impeccable double stack stop on Lap 14.

‘Impressive double stack pit stop’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/v...392579249.html

[Fortitude]

Ferrari rivalry: Fred Vasseur faces biggest test yet over brewing driver clash.
Having resolved Ferrari’s troubles from technical to strategy to pit stops, Fred Vasseur is facing his biggest hurdle yet as a race-winning team boss. And that’s managing two drivers…
23 Apr 2024 6:00 AM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

After Vasseur broke the news to him back in January that this season would be his last as a Ferrari driver, Carlos Sainz came out of the blocks firing as he stamped his authority over his team-mate Charles Leclerc. It had a seemingly magnanimous Leclerc declaring on the eve of the Chinese Grand Prix: “I think it’s as simple as he’s doing a better job… he’s just been stronger.

And show it he did, all signs of being magnanimous out of the window. Racing Sainz for position in the closing laps of the Sprint in Shanghai, the Ferrari team-mates went wheel-to-wheel, there was a moment of contact, and Leclerc came out on top.

Although he stated over the radio that he felt Sainz was “racing him harder than the others”, Leclerc kept his cool post-race as he spoke of his team-mate being a “bit over the limit” as there had been contact but, he added, “to be honest, I have crossed the line also myself in the past”.

‘Ferrari rivalry’;

https://www.planetf1.com/features/fe...ng-the-drivers


Vasseur dismisses China theory why Ferrari lost to McLaren
The Ferrari boss felt the team could not use an excuse which affected the whole grid for its performance in the Chinese Grand Prix.
23 April 9:15AM
Jake Nichol & Aaron Deckers
RacingNews365

Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur has refused to blame the track conditions at the Chinese Grand Prix for its lack of performance in the race. Whilst Vasseur indicated that the track surface was a problem - he refused to use it as the sole excuse for Ferrari's performance. "It can't be an excuse, it was the same for everybody," Vasseur told media including RacingNews365.

"It is true that it was the first time we came to Shanghai with this generation of car, the coating or painting of the tarmac didn't help as there was huge track evolution over the weekend. But it is absolutely not an excuse as everyone is in the same situation, and some teams managed it better - it means we have to understand if we can do a better job."

But Vasseur felt the gap was so tight between the leading gaggle, on any given weekend, the team could be "hero or zero." "From the beginning of the season, there is a window where the pack is very, very tight," Vasseur replied when by RacingNews365 if he felt the team would have been ahead of McLaren if it was not a sprint weekend.

‘Vasseur dismisses China theory’;

https://racingnews365.com/vasseur-re...is-china-slump


Ferrari eyes Verstappen dominance: Can Miami upgrades save the season?
April 22, 2024
Andrew Maitland
Grandpx.news

F1’s focus shifts towards Ferrari’s pursuit of critical updates at upcoming races in Miami and Imola. 2024 has unfolded with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen seemingly easing towards his fourth title in a row, with the season still having a substantial distance to cover.

Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported on the growing tension within Ferrari, describing it as a “red shrimp” in China. Amid these challenges, Ferrari’s principal, Frederic Vasseur, downplayed the internal friction and the team’s recent underperformance, attributing part of the struggle to inadequate practice with certain tyres due to the sprint weekend’s structure.

Vasseur expressed confidence in his team’s efforts back at the factory, stating, “The guys in the factory are pushing like crazy for the next updates.”

‘Miami upgrades’;

https://grandpx.news/ferrari-eyes-ve...ve-the-season/


LECLERC: ‘WE WERE JUST SLOW’ AS THE HARD TYRE STRIPS FERRARI OF THEIR PACE IN THE CHINESE GP
Leclerc has blamed the hard compound tyre for their mid-race drop-off at the Chinese Grand Prix
April 22, 2024
Oliver Brindle
FormulaNerds

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc revealed that the hard tyre caused them to be “half a second off” while the Monegasque driver missed an opportunity to challenge McLaren at the top. As reported by Motorsport.com, Leclerc said:

“I don’t think we found it [the pace] as a team, especially on the hard tyres, which is a bit strange because the strength of this car since the beginning of the year is it’s very solid in all conditions with all tyres. Today is a bit an outlier because as soon as we put on the hards, we were half a second off. So that is very strange. We will look into it and try to understand what went wrong on that run.”

‘Leclerc has blamed the hard compound tyre’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/le...he-chinese-gp/


FERRARI "MADE TOO MANY MISTAKES" FOR F1 PODIUM FIGHT AT CHINESE GP
Ferrari "made too many mistakes" at Formula 1's Chinese Grand Prix to fight at the front, reckons team boss Fred Vasseur.
Apr 23, 2024, 5:17 PM
Filip Cleeren
Motorsport.com

Team principal Vasseur said his team "made too many mistakes" trying to optimise its package for the tricky Shanghai circuit and its unusual tarmac coating, which led to being behind the curve in qualifying.

"I think it's really a matter of putting everything together," Vasseur explained. "We didn't have a clean weekend on our side, but we made collectively too many mistakes.”

"In this group, if you don't do the perfect job you won't be in front. We have a pack with six or seven cars in one tenth in qualifying. That means that due to details you can move from hero to zero."

"Made too many mistakes";

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/f...e-gp/10602384/


‘We’re way ahead’: Frederic Vasseur delighted that Ferrari are beating F1 rival this year
Tue 23 April 2024 12:00
David Comerford
F1 Oversteer

Ferrari will have been disappointed with their showing at the Chinese Grand Prix last weekend. Charles Leclerc came home fourth, and Carlos Sainz was fifth. Both drivers gained two spots during the race after qualifying down in sixth and seventh. It was the first time all season that the Scuderia had failed to get one of their cars in the top four.

Fred Vasseur identifies one big positive for Ferrari after Chinese Grand Prix. Speaking to Sky after the race, team principal Fred Vasseur called for perspective even though Ferrari under-performed in China. Leclerc and Sainz have scored five podiums between them so far, more than half of last year’s tally (nine). He also pointed out that Ferrari are ‘way ahead’ of Mercedes, having finished behind the Silver Arrows in the 2023 championship. The gulf between the two already stands at 99 points.

“If you compare where we were a year ago, we are in much better shape,” he said. “I don’t know how many podiums there were, but probably as many as in the season last year. We have won a race, we’re way ahead of Mercedes, so a much better start than a year ago. But today I’m mainly focused on what happened here and would have liked to have done a better job.”

“We’re way ahead”;

https://www.f1oversteer.com/news/fre...eam-this-year/


Ferrari announce special livery featuring shades of blue for Miami Grand Prix
23rd April 2024, 15:16
Formula One - Official Site

Ferrari have announced that they are set to unveil “fresh and unexpected colours” in a special livery for the upcoming Miami Grand Prix. The design change will be a one-off and will feature two historic shades of blue – Azzurro La Plata and Azzurro Dino – and will mark the 70th anniversary of Ferrari's presence in North America.

Azzurro La Plata – a lighter shade of blue that acts as the national racing colour of Argentina – echoes the colour worn by legendary driver Alberto Ascari during his most successful seasons in Formula 1 as he became Ferrari’s first world champion, winning the title in both 1952 and 1953. The Italian would usually wear a blue jersey accompanied by a matching helmet, which he considered his lucky charms.

The same colour was also seen on Ferrari drivers’ racing suits in the 1960s, including those of John Surtees, Lorenzo Bandini, Ludovico Scarfiotti and Chris Amon. Niki Lauda's racing suit during his inaugural year with Ferrari was also in this shade of blue, as were the shirts worn by the Maranello workforce. Azzurro Dino, the other colour being revived by the team ahead of Miami, is a deeper shade which was also favoured by a number of drivers in the past.

‘Ferrari announce special livery’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...Csgtv2yKyf4VHy

[Fortitude]

Alonso reflects on ‘crazy race’ in China after nearly crashing while Stroll gives his take on penalty for ‘weird’ incident.
It was an eventful race at the Chinese Grand Prix for the Aston Martin team, with Fernando Alonso working his way back through the field to P7 after slipping down the order from P2 on the opening lap, while Lance Stroll was hit with a penalty following an unusual incident with Daniel Ricciardo.
22 April 2024.
Formula One - Official Site

Asked for his thoughts on what had been a ‘crazy race’ for him, Alonso agreed: “Yeah, definitely, [a] crazy race. [There were] a lot of things happening for us in the race. “[I had a] great start, P2 the first couple of laps, then a few Safety Cars that probably didn’t help our strategy and made us save the tyres a little bit and last until the end. We had to make another stop, so that was not ideal. At the end [I] nearly crashed, but then fastest lap and P7, so all in all I think a good weekend.”

“We only had one [set of] hard tyres and in the middle of the hard stint the Safety Car came, so our good race tyre was gone in a way after that Safety Car,” the two-time world champion said. “We didn’t have any more options, so yeah, let’s see. Maybe next time we don’t race the Sprint we save tyres and we have more race for Sunday, like this we don’t have even a strange penalty.”

‘Alonso reflects’;

https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/a...iCvryzSYcud0TM


Fernando Alonso threatens to skip Miami Sprint with ‘not worth it’ claim after penalty
22 Apr 2024 1:00 PM
Michelle Foster
Daily and Sunday Express

Slapped with three penalty points for causing a collision in the Sprint in China, Fernando Alonso has questioned whether it’s “worth” taking part in the next short race in Miami. The stewards ruled that he was responsible for causing the collision and said “per the guidelines on driving standards” the infringement required a 10-second penalty. They, however, didn’t state exactly what Alonso had done wrong.

But while the 10-second time penalty was a non-entity given he’d retired from the race, the more impactful punishment was the three penalty points put on his licence. That took his tally up to six in the space of just one month after his incident with George Russell at the Australian Grand Prix.

“These sanctions are not understood and I do not share them, especially in the case of licence points,” Fox Sport Mexico quotes him as having told DAZN. “Such an incredible penalty is once again unprecedented.” In fact, such is his ire over the penalty, he says it’s “almost worth not” taking part in the next Sprint in Miami.

‘Not worth it’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernan...worth-it-claim


KRACK SAYS STROLL’S PENALTY WAS ‘VERY HARSH’ AND ‘NOT SUPER CONSISTENT’
Aston Martin racked up the penalty points over the Chinese Grand Prix weekend with 13 in total across both drivers
April 22, 2024
Abby Bathurst
FormulaNerds

In China, both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were granted penalties. Alonso received a 10-second penalty and three penalty points after Saturday’s Sprint. The reason being was that he was deemed the driver at fault for a collision with fellow Spaniard, Carlos Sainz. Whilst Alonso received a 10-second penalty, he was forced to retire from the Sprint and so the result was not changed.

After the Grand Prix, Krack was asked by media about the stewards’ decision regarding his drivers. As reported by PlanetF1, Aston Martin’s Team Principal admitted he thought the stewards were a bit harsh, specifically on Stroll’s incident with Ricciardo. Krack said: “Yes, the stewards have been tough to Fernando and Lance recently. We had it in the Sprint race, we had [it] in Melbourne.”

“You saw Fernando locking and then another car behind and I think everybody was a little bit caught out. I think at that stage we were happy that we did not lose both cars. I think it started further to the front, and I would have liked that this would’ve been looked at in a little bit more detailed way. We tried to discuss it but the verdict was very quickly that Lance was to blame and he got a 10-second penalty, in addition to the front wing damage.”

‘Aston Martin racked up the 13 penalty points’;

https://www.formulanerds.com/news/kr...er-consistent/


Fernando Alonso threatens to skip next race as Aston Martin star lays into FIA
Fernando Alonso was not pleased after his punishment at the Chinese Grand Prix.
14:57, Mon, Apr 22, 2024
By Charlie Gordon
Daily and Sunday Express

Fernando Alonso was outraged by his Chinese Grand Prix sprint race punishment. The penalty points could be damaging if Alonso encounters more difficulty later this season. The Spaniard has now amassed six in the last month as his Sainz clash followed a 'potentially dangerous driving' verdict which saw George Russell crash out in Australia.

The penalty points could be damaging if Alonso encounters more difficulty later this season. The Spaniard has now amassed six in the last month as his Sainz clash followed a 'potentially dangerous driving' verdict which saw George Russell crash out in Australia.

Picking up 12 points in a 12-month period would see the FIA dish out a rare race ban. While Alonso is up there in terms of drivers punished by F1's governing body, Perez and Logan Sargeant lead the way in the last year with eight points apiece.

‘Fernando Alonso was outraged’;

https://www.express.co.uk/sport/f1-a...ton-martin-FIA


F1 penalty system comes under fire with Lance Stroll and Kevin Magnussen disqualification argument
23 Apr 2024 5:00 PM
Jamie Woodhouse
PlanetF1.com

Leading Spanish Formula 1 broadcaster Antonio Lobato was left furious with what he saw as inconsistent steward verdicts in China, arguing Lance Stroll and Kevin Magnussen should have been at risk of disqualification going off the Fernando Alonso verdict. “I don’t want to be a pest with this topic, but it makes my blood boil,” he told SoyMotor.com.

“I’m looking at the penalties applied during the Chinese GP and I see that Kevin Magnussen has been given a 10-second penalty and two points on his Super Licence for a suicidal manoeuvre on Yuki Tsunoda and ruining his race after destroying his car. Lance Stroll has been given a 10-second penalty and two points, just two, on his Super Licence for crashing into Ricciardo and Piastri. And you ask yourself: ‘Did they change the stewards between Saturday and Sunday?’. How is it possible that the judgement measurement has changed!”

“Fernando Alonso in the Sprint race for fighting against Carlos Sainz, where they made contact but nothing else happened, and they gave us a good battle, he was handed a 10-second penalty and three points for his Super Licence. Are they trying to tell me that what Alonso did is more dangerous than what Magnussen or Stroll did? Does anyone really have a look into this and questions him or herself: ‘There is something wrong here’.

‘Inconsistent steward verdicts in China’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernan...n-magnussen-dq


Fernando Alonso lifts lid on Aston Martin dynamic with ‘whole project around Lance Stroll’
24 Apr 2024 12:00 PM
Michelle Foster
PlanetF1.com

Despite Mike Krack’s claim the Aston Martin project was built around Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso says there’s more to it with team owner Lawrence Stroll “a racer” who wants to succeed. Alonso has implied there’s more to Lawrence Stroll’s ownership of the Aston Martin team than a safe landing spot for his son’s F1 ambitions.

“He’s a great man, great boss and a great owner of the brand,” the double World Champion told Channel 4. “I think at the end Lawrence is a racer, one of us, and loves motor racing, loves cars. I think what he has done with this team is just probably unprecedented. Taking it from Racing Point, Force India, and taking everything to the highest level possible. And now we are fighting with Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren and Red Bull.”

“So to have leading the project someone that loves racing is very rewarding for everyone. Lance and myself, we are trying to help the team as much as we can,” he said. “I think we have two different driving styles in some conditions, we have two different feelings with the car. I think Lance is a lot more sensitive to things than what I am, which is very important for the team. I think the analysis that Lance can reach and can feed back to the team is crucial to us and to improve the car.”

‘Aston Martin dynamic’;

https://www.planetf1.com/news/fernan...stroll-project