Motorsport TechnologyThe Scuderia Ferrari Formula One team will be hoping to build upon the momentum of its ‘best of the rest’ finish at the Australian Grand Prix.
Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton finished in third and fourth positions respectively in what was the first race of the new hybrid era.
READ CRAIG SCARBOROUGH’S TECH REVIEW OF THE FERRARI SF-26
Opinions have been mixed as to whether the electric energy harvesting and power boost to pass is really real racing.
But the start of the race did see the lead between Russell and Charles Leclerc change hands a number of times before the race settled into a new kind of tactical rhythm.
Now heading to a radically different circuit in Shanghai, the challenge will be to reset and start again in the first Sprint Race weekend of the year.
“The Chinese Grand Prix comes hot on the heels of the Melbourne event and is a different challenge in many respects,” commented Fred Vasseur Team Principal.
“Being a Sprint weekend means we have far less time to work on the cars and that means the work done in Maranello and in the simulator takes on even greater importance.”
Seven-time world champion Hamilton got off to a flyer with victory in the 2025 Chinese GP Sprint race before his season tailed off somewhat alarmingly.
“This is only the start of a new era for Formula 1, with very different cars to those we raced over the past few years,” added Vasseur.
“That means every session is an opportunity to learn more about managing them, in terms of set-up and energy.”
“There were encouraging signs in Australia, but the level is very high and there is still a lot of work to do.
“In Shanghai we aim to keep making progress, gather data, stay focused and put together a clean weekend from start to finish.”
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Fraser Masefield
Craig Scarborough