Will the Chinese GP present greater challenges in the spring?

Traditionally, the Chinese GP has been held during the fall, either just prior to or just after the Japanese GP. This year, the race has been moved to April. The history of the Chinese GP is one of many dramatic events, with drivers battling the autumn rains. Given the fact that spring weather in China can be just as unpredictable as fall, we know that tire management is sure to be a key factor in the outcome of the race. It won’t be easy to drive on slicks (non–grooved tires) when the weather is constantly changing in subtle ways. Last–second strategy decisions are likely to have a major impact on the race results—race fans will be keen to observe the response in the pits. One key to the on–course battle will be the sweeping complex between turns 1 and 3, as well as the section between turns 11 to 13. Performance here directly impacts speed on the straights. At the end of this, the third race of the season, we should start to get a picture of how the competitive balance among the teams is sorting out.