F1 hails China venue

Seven times champion Michael Schumacher said: "It's simply different. The corner combinations, like Turn 1 and Turn 13, with the long straight into such a tight hairpin, we don't have elsewhere. There is slight banking going into Turn 13 and that's quite interesting to see.

"Then you get into the tight business of Turn 3 and it's challenging because you can make a lot of mistakes and also make up a lot of time. I would say that the overtaking opportunities will mainly be into Turn 13, but it's easy to go off-line and make mistakes, as I did today. "

Anthony Davidson, who was quickest on the opening day in Shanghai for BAR Honda, said: "I wouldn't say it is the best track that we go to, but it's definitely up there among the best in the world. It's quite physical too, especially the banked corner, when you can feel it on the neck and also internally."

Rubens Barrichello added: "It's a really good layout and the shape of Turn 13 is good and will provide overtaking onto the straight. Another good point is different set-ups, because there's a mix of challenges, like Indy, with the long straight and some good corners.

"In the last corner it is difficult to pick up the apex because you go uphill and then turn. I have a problem with visibility in Turn 2, seeing the actual corner, but I don't think there are any real problems. It is a really good track."

Most drivers agreed with Schumacher that the hard corners are Turns 1 and 2, where a variety of lines can be adopted and it is hard to find the best line and achieve consistency.