🏁 Shanghai Soon

PLP Season 2 Edition 16

It’s Race Weekend!

We’re set for the first Sprint weekend of the season, with a slightly different format than last year. Also, stop me if you’ve heard this before: We’re still halfway around the world, so FP1 and Sprint Qualifying will already be done by the time this hits your inbox. Race time is 3am, but the good news? Staying up for the Sprint race won’t be bad at all. Here’s the rest of the weekend schedule in EST:

• Sprint Race: Friday, April 19th @ 11:00pm

• GP Qualifying: Saturday, April 20th @ 3:00am

• Grand Prix: Sunday, April 21st @ 3:00am

Quick Quiz !

Sidenote: Great feedback on the question from last week! Was nice to hear varying perspectives on the Japanese GP. We’ll be sure to include more going forward.

Chinese GP Preview

We’re back in Shanghai for the first Chinese GP in 5 years after a brief Covid hiatus, and we have a Sprint no less. That means teams will have just one practice session to collect data and run tests before it counts. Coupled with the fact that a lot of drivers (nor this generation of cars) have never raced here, and a possibility of wet weather - we could be in for some unpredictable action.

The track is certainly one of the more unique looking ones on the calendar. Designed to look like the Chinese symbol for “shang”, meaning upwards, the almost 360 journey around turns 1 and 2 are followed by quick left back out, a tight turn 6, two quick high g-force runs through 7 and 8, and one of the longest straights we’ll see at 1.2 km (three quarters of a mile, in American. Speaking of, more tracks should be designed to look like culturally significant symbols. I propose a bald eagle track in Washington, D.C. Or maybe a bowtie pasta shaped circuit in Milan?). Look for some good overtaking opportunities around the turn 14-15 hairpin, or turn 6.

In terms of team expectations, it goes without saying that Red Bull will always be favored. I did say it though, didn’t I? Which means there’s now slightly more doubt than when it didn’t need to be said? Anyway… McLaren has been spouting some caution given they are weak in low speed corners, while some think the circuit being front limited in terms of axle-defining performance could play into Ferrari’s hands. Mercedes continues their rebuild and are frankly a wildcard at this point, while Aston are preparing for high track evolution and should be good, but are still lacking on the straights. As for the rest of the field, I think Haas remains strong, and Zhou gets on the board with a point in his fist home GP.

New Sprint Weekend Format

If you were confused by the practice - race quali - sprint shootout - sprint race - GP format of yesteryear, prepare yourself for the practice - sprint quali - sprint race - race quali - GP format of today. One similarity is that there’s only one practice to nail the set up. The difference? The order does make more sense. And now it’s just “Spint Qualifying” instead of “Sprint Shootout” which was apparently confusing to some.

Another benefit of the format change is teams will now be able to work on cars after the sprint race and before GP qualifying, until cars enter parc ferme once more (as they will between sprint qualifying and the sprint race). Parce ferme, French for “closed park” means teams can’t make performance set up changes. Cars enter parc ferme between qualifying and races to keep the car set up “as is”. If you see a driver start from the pit lane (pulse), it means the team broke parc ferme rules. A criticism in the past would be that the Sprint would reveal who was strong that weekend and the actual race would be free of any surprises. Now, teams will have another chance to make adjustments before the GP, which is definitely an improvement.

Another similarity? People will still complain 🤷‍♂️. Personally I like Sprints. More racing, more action. It’s a nice change of pace. Although I do wonder if you’ll see less risk taking with drivers wanting to avoid taking damage in the Sprint race, when the regular GP qualifying takes place only a few hours after.

In other Chinese GP News:

• The GP Trophy will be wearable. You just KNOW this is extra motivation for Lewis if he can make a fashion statement with it.

• If Max wins, he’ll have won 50% of all races since the last Chinese GP in 2019. Yowza.

• 6 unforgettable Chinese GP moments include Michael Schumacher’s last ever win in 2006, Red Bull’s first ever win in 2009, and F1’s 1000th GP in 2019.

• Zhou Guanyu on his first home race and being an inspiration to Chinese fans. He’s also rocking a helmet inspired by the Shanghai underground (That’s subway in American, but not the sandwiches. Which I suppose are also pretty American) and landmarks around the city. Really like this design with the clean, colorful lines.

• Premium subscribers, get your Chinese GP Bingo sheets at the bottom of this email 🔽 

Late Night FP1 Update: The grass on the inside of turn 7 spontaneously caught on fire (guess I have to add that to F1 Bingo) and no one knows why, and Lance Stroll topped the time sheets. Chinese fireworks! 🎆 

Reader Question: How does DRS work, anyway?

Thanks to Mike in Maryland for some questions regarding DRS, short for Drag Reduction System. Introduced in 2011, it’s designed to make overtaking easier, and increase the chances of closer wheel-to-wheel racing action. With the flip of a button, drivers open a flap on the rear wing to reduce drag and increase straight-line speed.

On each track there are DRS detection points. If a chasing driver is within one second of a driver ahead at the detection point, a sensor will send a signal to the car and the driver is informed via flashing lights on their steering wheel. The driver can then activate DRS in the designated zone to gain time or attempt a passing move with a manual push of a button. You’ll often hear team engineers inform drivers (both those chasing and being chased) if they currently have, or are vulnerable to DRS. The rear wing flap will close once the driver either lifts off the accelerator, hits the brake pedal, or pushes the button a second time.

• DRS can be used during practice and qualifying, even when not chasing another car.

• This year there is only a 1 lap waiting period (down from 2 last year) after a standing start or safety car until DRS is allowed. Dubbed the “Max rule” who would often have a 1+ second lead after 2 laps.

• It’s not without controversy - some love it for creating more action, some hate it as a “push to pass” option. Personally I think it’s a net positive - but I’m open to other tweaks as the regulations change.

Speaking of button-pushing-for-speed-changes there is a similar function for reducing pit lane speed, which is typically 50mph. According to Albon, it’s a button usually sunken on the wheel so a driver doesn’t hit it by accident. So how the heck do people sometimes get dinged for speeding in the pit lane? You still have to brake adequately and enter below the speed limit - the button will simply prevent you from going over 50mph once you are already under.

Down the Grid

Tech Talk

• A nice graphic on the airflow philosophy of the 2026 cars, which will transition to an in-wash design vs. the out-wash we see with the current generation.

• Adrian Newey on why the 2026 regulations may result in a “strange formula”: With the new power units being a 50/50 split between power generated from internal combustion and battery, energy recovery will be at a premium. For example, you might see them running at full rev around the famous [very] slow speed hairpin turn in Monaco, to recover power as they act as makeshift generators.

• Check out how much wings have changed in 5 years, due to the effect of regulation changes,. Wings today need to direct more air inward and all the outwash seen from the 2018 version below have been reigned in by the current regs (though some still exists, which will be limited further in 2026) 🔽 

Off the Grid

• F124 video game trailer has dropped

• The first F1 Impact Report has been released, noting “significant progress” in sustainability goals - including a 13% decrease in the sport’s carbon footprint in 2022 vs 2018, with an minimum goal of a 50% cut vs 2018. The 2026 regulations will see new 100% sustainable fuel in use.

• The 2025 race calendar has been released. We’ll see the same 24 circuits as 2024 but with some scheduling changes that see Australia moved back to season opener (which is two weeks later than this year) and the middle eastern races moved a bit later to account for Ramadan. The weekends that will also hold Sprint races will be announced at a later date 🔽 

Premium subscribers can find a detailed race recap heading their way Monday afternoon, otherwise we’ll see you back here next Friday as per usual. Enjoy the race, bonus points if you watch live on the East Coast.

Questions? Comments? Did we get something wrong (never 😁)? Let us know ▶ [email protected]

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