With F1 groups having completed lots of pre-event work within the simulator based mostly on info from each Pirelli and the FIA, they had been caught out once they arrived on the circuit on Wednesday by the visibly totally different observe floor.
Whereas drivers mentioned it seemed just like the observe had been “painted”, it emerged that it was really a liquid bitumen floor remedy that had been utilized final yr to assist cut back the degradation of the outdated asphalt.
With the circuit having been used since, components of this remedy had been worn away on the racing line – which has given the floor a two-tone look.
However past it trying totally different, the remedy has impacted grip ranges – particularly with there being a distinction between areas the place the bitumen stays in place and the place it has been worn away.
Whereas the FIA usually informs groups forward of race weekends of any materials modifications to the circuit, no notification about this remedy was included in paperwork that had been despatched to groups and Pirelli.
Moreover, Pirelli usually sends engineers prematurely of an F1 assembly to ship up-to-date knowledge on the observe situations, however this was not completed this time as a result of the Italian firm had none of its F1 personnel free to do it.
It was solely when it arrived on the circuit on Wednesday with its engineers that the problem emerged – triggering some shock.
Picture by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Requested about how a lot communication there had been with the FIA concerning the remedy, F1 chief engineer Simone Berra mentioned: “We did not get any indication, so we had been shocked as effectively.
“We seen it on Wednesday once we had been doing the same old observe inspection, and it was fairly clear that this floor was utterly totally different from the outdated one.”
Autosport understands that the shortage of warning over the floor was mentioned in Friday morning’s workforce managers’ assembly with F1 race director Niels Wittich.
Sources counsel that whereas Wittich admitted to being conscious of the work having been completed, he didn’t take into account it vital to tell the groups as a result of it was not a change that ought to have materially impacted the observe’s efficiency stage, nor require any change of homologation.
Whereas the grip modifications had been definitely not excessive sufficient to have a situation as dangerous at Turkey 2020, Berra added that sooner or later it was clear the circuits ought to make it extra apparent, particularly with the FIA, of the influence of any works completed at F1 venues.
Requested what had gone mistaken with communication over the matter, Berra mentioned: “I believe you might want to ask the FIA, but it surely’s not a observe change that wants rehomologation, or a test by the FIA.
“It was completed by Chinese language circuit administration, and so they may have completed this with out informing anyone.
“However I’d say it is not the top of the world ultimately as a result of in FP1, for instance, the grip stage improved after just a few laps, after which the drivers had been in a position to full the session.
“I believe that, for the longer term, the FIA will attempt to work a bit of bit nearer with the circuit to know this sort of info prematurely.”
The floor remedy challenge will disappear for 2025 with Shanghai set to undertake an entire resurfacing this summer time previous to subsequent yr’s race.
