
"2024 F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lando Norris Secures Pole in Dramatic Wet Sprint Qualifying"
F1 teams and Pirelli were surprised to find a visibly different track surface at the Shanghai circuit, caused by a liquid bitumen treatment applied last year. The treatment impacted grip levels and was not communicated to teams or Pirelli by the FIA. While the grip changes were not extreme, F1 chief engineer Simone Berra emphasized the need for better communication and understanding of track changes in the future. The surface issue will be resolved with a complete resurfacing of the Shanghai circuit in 2025.


