The almost endless opening sequence of the Shanghai International Circuit — which almost loops back upon itself before ultimately veering left at the last moment — is said to be fashioned after the Yin and Yang of Chinese Taoist philosophy.
Representing two different sides of the same whole, it is a concept that can be applied to so much in life. Be it art, science, relationships – and even motorsport.
Over the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix weekend, the first to be a part of the Formula 1 calendar in five years, eventual race winner Max Verstappen demonstrated his duality as a driver. From being utterly uncompromising in the pursuit of perfection, to still finding joy in achieving that, all 58 grand prix victories later.
For reasons known only to FOM, China was chosen as the site for the first sprint race weekend of 2024, despite F1’s teams and drivers not having raced there for half a decade. Although Verstappen did not start that race from pole, he successfully chased down fellow multiple world champions Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton for the lead before pulling out a 13-second margin over 11 laps with crushingly consistent pace.
Despite his massive margin of victory, Verstappen was not satisfied. He wanted to improve the car into qualifying and the race further. He reportedly told Dutch media that he puts more value on his feeling in the car than he does on how far his rivals are behind him in a sprint race – showing just how single-minded the world champion is in maximising every result each time he climbs into the cockpit.
Whatever settings he changed on his Red Bull for Saturday’s grand prix qualifying session seemed to pay off. Unlike sprint qualifying, he secured pole position for the grand prix with team mate Sergio Perez set to line up alongside him on the front row for the second consecutive Sunday. His margin over the competition was the largest it has been so far this year.
Alonso gave Aston Martin their best starting position of the season in third, while Friday’s sprint pole winner Lando Norris would lead the two McLarens in fourth. With concerns about how the tyres would last around the long, sweeping corners on the Chinese circuit, none of the top ten starters opted to fit softs for their opening stint.
On the three previous occasions Verstappen and Perez had started a grand prix from the front row together, Perez had never once beaten his team mate to the first corner first. When…
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