Hajjar: It's good that the weekend program includes a sprint

      In China, at the second stage of the season, the teams will have to solve difficult tasks, as the weekend program includes a sprint, and in addition, the asphalt surface of the Shanghai highway has been completely renovated. However, Racing Bulls newcomer Isaac Hajjar believes that a short Saturday race will allow him to better adapt and prepare for the main events of the weekend.

      Isaac Hajjar: "I'm preparing for the Chinese Grand Prix and I'm already more confident than I was a week ago before the race in Australia. In Melbourne, from the very beginning of the weekend, I felt comfortable driving on short laps and in qualifying, which is exactly what we wanted to achieve after what we saw in pre-season testing.

      Of course, I still lack racing experience, so it's good that the sprint is included in the weekend's program, so I also have a short race ahead of me, which will allow me to adapt better before the main race, before Sunday's Grand Prix."

      Yuki Tsunoda: "The Shanghai circuit has a lot of unique features, I like it, and I feel like we can do well this weekend.

      Every time we worked on the track in Melbourne, we were capable of a very good pace, and if things go well now, starting from the first practice session, and we continue from the level we reached in Australia, then we can succeed.

      It is necessary to maintain maximum concentration throughout the weekend, because this is the first weekend of the season, which includes a sprint."

      Alan Permane, Racing Director: "After a chaotic race in Melbourne, the results of which made us upset, we immediately headed to Shanghai for the second stage of the season, and Saturday's sprint awaits us this weekend.

      The configuration of the Chinese track is such that it is difficult for both racers and engineers there. It differs in that the turns are very diverse – from hairpins to very high-speed ones, and the change in direction of movement occurs very quickly, and the reverse straight line with a length of 1.2 km is preceded by a protracted profiled turn that seems simply endless.

      The degradation level on this track is usually high, and overtaking is quite possible there. Last year, the main race was dominated by the tactics of two pit stops, but since then the asphalt surface has been completely renovated, and this may well affect the tire tactics.

      Pirelli is preparing tougher rubber compounds for this stage than were used in Melbourne, and since Friday's qualifying for the sprint will be preceded by only one hour of practice, it is important that the settings are close to ideal from the very first lap."