China GP back after five years with contentious sprint as Zhou fulfils dream

Shanghai: Formula One returns to China for the first time in five years this week with a packed programme including a Saturday sprint race, but not ev...

Shanghai: Formula One returns to China for the first time in five years this week with a packed programme including a Saturday sprint race, but not everyone is happy with the Shanghai schedule.

Championship leader Max Verstappen and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz are among those who have expressed doubts about having limited practice on a resurfaced circuit that is unknown to the current specification of F1 cars.

China's closed borders during the pandemic meant the Shanghai International Circuit has not hosted a grand prix since April 2019, when the race was won by Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes one-two with Valtteri Bottas.

This weekend has just 60 minutes of free practice on Friday morning ahead of sprint qualifying, leaving drivers fearful about the lack of preparation.

"I think it's not great," said Red Bull's three-time world champion Verstappen about F1's choice of China as the first of the season's six sprint venues.