The start of the 2024 Formula 1 season for Scuderia Ferrari has led it to be considered a competitor to Red Bull ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, the next round of the championship, which is scheduled to take place at the 5.451-kilometre Shanghai International Circuit on Sunday, April 21
The early outings of the Scuderia have reignited enthusiasm in Maranello. Between the one-two finish achieved in Australia at the Albert Park circuit and the podiums secured in the other races, Ferrari emerges as the primary challenger to Red Bull even in the Chinese GP.
The race in Shanghai could represent a rather significant weekend in the World Championship outlook. The Sprint Race format will return, albeit with a slightly different guise than last year. This will allow teams to earn more points compared to standard race weekends.
Furthermore, Formula 1 hasn’t returned to China since the distant 2019, and the single free practice session could add uncertainty to the weekend. On paper, Red Bull remains the favorite, less dominant than in 2023 but still ahead of the pack.
Ferrari “scares” Christian Horner
And what about Ferrari? The Maranello team led by Frederic Vasseur arrives in China aware of having demonstrated virtually no tire degradation in Japan, on one of the most abrasive tracks on the entire calendar. For this reason, as confirmed by team principal Christian Horner, Ferrari could be Red Bull’s primary rival at the Shanghai circuit.
“They were very fast in Australia and their race pace in Japan was not bad at all,” said the Red Bull team principal. “We believe they could be our main competitor even in the Chinese Grand Prix. Shanghai is a particular track, with a first corner that seems to go on forever and a series of fast corners that put the tires to the test. Furthermore, the presence of the Sprint race means that the entire weekend will be a challenge for the various teams,” concluded Christian Horner.
Source: f1ingenerale
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