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Formula 1 Chinese GP

F1 Chinese GP Live Commentary and Updates – FP1 & Sprint Qualifying

Friday's action from the fifth round of the 2024 Formula 1 season.

After five years away, F1 returns to Shanghai and with it the first sprint race format of the 2024 season.

Teams and drivers will have just one 60-minute practice session to get up to speed before the revised sprint race schedule for this year kicks in – starting with sprint race qualifying on Friday afternoon.

Practice starts at 4:30am BST (11:30am local time) followed by sprint race qualifying at 8:30am BST (3:30pm local time).

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23:33

That gaggle of cars was led by the two Haas drivers, with both Alpines and both Red Bulls also circulating.

Green flag

23:31

There wasn't an initial rush but there is now a gaggle of cars on track, with focus largely on the Chinese Sauber driver.

23:30

Just a minute until a likely rush of cars leaves the pits to get the weekend underway.
Wonder how Zhou Guanyu is feeling ahead of his home event...

23:28

The clouds are out across the track and that means the temperature is moderate.
Air temp is at 22 degrees and track temp sits at 38.

23:26

What are the drivers faced with across the next hour?
The circuit changes character across the lap as it goes from tight and twisty into fast and sweeping, before a long, long straight offers overtaking opportunity into the penultimate corner.

23:23

Want a guess at who was top in FP1 last time F1 was in these parts?

Time's up! It was Sebastian Vettel.

23:21

The talk ahead of the weekend has been the resurfacing of the circuit.
Drivers noted that the circuit was somewhat 'painted' over, so how will that affect running this weekend?

23:19

The format for a sprint weekend has changed yet again this year, though for the first hour, there is no need to worry.
A straight 60-minute session is on the way in FP1, with sprint shootout coming later in the day.

23:17

F1 returns to the Shanghai International Circuit for the first time since 2019 this weekend, meaning teams are driving into the unknown.
Oh, and it's a sprint weekend too. Good luck engineers...

23:14

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the Chinese Grand Prix weekend.
The last of the early wake-up calls for a while!

By: Autosport Staff

Published:

Apr 19, 2024, 3:33 AM