The Chinese Grand Prix could provide F1 with drama and Verstappen's victory could slow the march

The Chinese Grand Prix could provide much-needed drama to Formula 1 Red Bulls Max Verstappen Sunday is almost certainly not going to be a winner.

It was the first GP of the season with a sprint race, meaning Friday's practice session was the only weekend. McLaren's Lando Norris went on to secure pole for Saturday's sprint race, with drivers struggling to control their cars during rainy qualifying.

That includes Verstappen.

„It was incredibly slippery and I struggled to get the temperature in the tyres, so it was very difficult to keep the car on the track,” said the three-time world champion. „The car never changed for me, it was like driving on snow, so I think we deserved where we finished in the sprint.”

Verstappen has won 22 of the last 26 GPs and three of the first four this season. Only a brake failure in Australia prevented him from sweeping the first four races. A fifth race could be a challenge even for Verstappen.

„It has some variables and, perhaps, the probability of throwing up some unexpected results,” Red Bull principal Christian Horner said on Friday. „I think it's going to be all action.”

Here's why.

The path is a little unclear. It was the first F1 race in China in five years to be scratched from the calendar due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Last won in 2019 By Mercedes Lewis Hamilton.

But the biggest unknown is the condition of the racing surface, which has a thin „sealing coating” applied – described as liquid asphalt. Motorists have repeatedly said that it looks like it has been painted. And tire supplier Pirelli said it was not fully aware of the changes to the race.

While it's difficult to draw any firm conclusions, Friday's practice kicked up some unusual names.

Aston Martin's Lance Stroll was fastest (1 min, 36.302 sec), followed by McLaren's Oscar Piastre. Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez were 3rd-4th, followed by the two Haas drivers – Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen.

China's first F1 driver is Zhou Guanyu He was 11th in practice in a saber.

Charles Leclerc hinted on Thursday about Ferrari closing the gap on Red Bull. They are not in practice on Friday. Leclerc and teammate Carlos Sainz were 13th and 14th.

„Everything we've hoped for is happening in the midst of uncertainty, hopefully it will be an entertaining event in China with some action and some opportunities,” McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said.

He said the tire grip was reduced in the practice session and the tires had more wear from the unfamiliar surface.

The drivers spoke about themselves to the Japanese GP two weeks ago Concerns about Sprint in China The track, located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of central Shanghai, was visible on the distant horizon through a faint haze on Friday.

Horner acknowledged the concern, but the Shanghai circuit is a known quantity, having hosted races since 2004.

„We have a lot of historical data from this region,” he said. „It's not like going back to a brand new place and learning everything all over again.”