Norris confident ahead of Chinese Grand Prix, Hamilton says 'there's work to do'
Championship leader Lando Norris is aware that he will encounter a new set of challenges at this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix, which includes the season's inaugural sprint race.
The forecast predicts warm and dry conditions for both Saturday's sprint and Sunday's second grand prix of the year at the 5.451km Shanghai International Circuit, known for its long turns and demanding braking zones that can be tough on tyres.
These weather conditions will significantly differ from last weekend's chaotic season opener in Melbourne, which was predominantly run on intermediate wet tyres and featured extended periods under the safety car.
Norris managed to navigate a late slip onto the gravel that caused damage to his car's floor, yet he successfully defended against a strong challenge from Max Verstappen to secure victory.
The teams face a quick transition to China, with only 60 minutes of practice available on Friday morning to adjust their setups before the afternoon's sprint qualifying session.
The 19-lap sprint race is scheduled for Saturday morning, followed by Grand Prix qualifying later that day. The main race on Sunday will consist of 56 laps.
When Formula One returned to China last April after a five-year hiatus, Norris finished a considerable second behind Verstappen's Red Bull, but he is now regarded as the competitor to beat.
"I'm confident that when we go to China we can be very strong because we were strong there last year with not a very good car," Norris said after his Melbourne victory.
Verstappen's victory in Shanghai last year marked his fourth win in five races, showcasing his dominance in the early part of the season, which ultimately led him to secure his fourth world championship title.
However, during the race in Australia on Sunday, Verstappen was swiftly overtaken by the McLaren drivers after Oscar Piastri moved ahead of him into second place.
At one point, Verstappen found himself 16 seconds behind the leaders, but a spin by Piastri and the deployment of a safety car provided him with a late opportunity to challenge Norris.
"We only have a few days before we are in China so not sure how much we will be able to find and turn around," said the Dutchman, who is seeking a fifth consecutive world title, a feat only previously achieved by Michael Schumacher.
Verstappen secured victory in the sprint race in China last year, overtaking Lewis Hamilton, who was driving for Mercedes.
In his first race with Ferrari, Hamilton expressed frustration with the car, describing it as "much worse" than he had anticipated, ultimately finishing in 10th place.
Both Hamilton and his teammate Charles Leclerc were adversely affected by the team's decision to keep them on slick tires for too long as rain returned.
They are both aware that they are already in a position of having to make up lost ground.
"McLaren and Red Bull had serious pace so there's work to do, but we'll dig deep," said Hamilton. "I'm looking forward to getting back in the car in China."
Hamilton has a record six victories in Shanghai - twice with McLaren in 2008 and 2011, and four times with Mercedes in 2014-15, 2017 and 2019.
Leclerc conceded: "We are disappointed but it's good to know we'll be back in the car in just a few days in China. It's a continuous process of improvement."
Mercedes achieved victory six times in China between 2012 and 2019 and had a promising beginning in Melbourne, where George Russell secured third place and Kimi Antonelli finished fourth in his debut.
Antonelli stood out as the top performer among the six rookies competing for a full season, with Haas's Oliver Bearman being the only other rookie to complete the race. Isack Hadjar was devastated after crashing his RB during the formation lap, while Alpine's Jack Doohan collided with the wall on the opening lap. Gabriel Bortoleto's Sauber and Liam Lawson's Red Bull both retired after completing 45 and 46 laps out of the 58, respectively.
Last year in Shanghai, local favorite Zhou Guanyu attracted large crowds while racing for Sauber, but he has since been released from the team.
Fans will still have the opportunity to see China's sole Formula 1 driver, albeit in a different capacity, as he takes on the role of reserve driver for Ferrari.
SportsLigue