Max Verstappen will be licking his lips when he sees one Chinese Grand Prix track change for 2025

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Max Verstappen is eyeing back-to-back Chinese Grand Prix victories this weekend. Verstappen bagged his first-ever Shanghai win in 2024, leading home Lando Norris.

The Chinese Grand Prix was absent from the calendar between 2020 and 2023 due to the pandemic. It made its return last year, and Verstappen quickly ticked it off his list.

Norris took a surprise pole in a soaking Sprint qualifying session ahead of Lewis Hamilton. Verstappen was only fourth, but Red Bull’s pace advantage was such that he cruised through in the dry to take victory.

He went on to secure pole position for the main Grand Prix, more than three tenths ahead of teammate Sergio Perez. A dominant win followed as he beat Norris, who had leapfrogged Perez in a virtual safety car period, by 13 seconds.

This was his last victory before McLaren ended Red Bull’s dominance with a seismic Miami upgrade. A year on, Norris has finally ended Verstappen’s run atop the world championship.

Chinese Grand Prix resurfacing could play right into Max Verstappen’s hands

Ahead of this weekend’s race, the FIA have confirmed the entire Shanghai International Circuit has been resurfaced. As pointed out by The Race’s Jonathan Noble, the drivers will have only one hour to get used to the new tarmac before Sprint qualifying.

This should suit Verstappen. As his Red Bull teammate Liam Lawson explained recently, the four-time world champion is supremely adaptive in low-grip conditions.

Lawson said on the Beyond the Grid podcast: “When you get big changes, whether it’s wet or mixed conditions… Lap one of a session, if you watch free practice, normally he’ll go out and be quickest out the box, regardless of how the session ends. It’s just that adapting, that feeling, that confidence.”

Grip levels could be on the low fresh asphalt before the drivers can lay down some rubber. Verstappen’s skillset should come to the fore in these circumstances.

What’s more, Verstappen has been ‘hammering’ Red Bull over the car’s poor ride over kerbs and bumps. In theory, a smoother track will suit the RB21.

What Max Verstappen is saying ‘internally’ after defeat to Lando Norris

Red Bull had a disappointing Friday in Australia last time out but made a breakthrough overnight. That allowed Verstappen to qualify third behind the two McLarens and finish second.

Verstappen faced ‘massive’ oversteer in practice, but his feedback was notably more positive before qualifying. Red Bull engineers may now have a clearer understanding of the car.

McLaren still arrive in China as the favourites. But the reigning champion demonstrated in Australia that he can put Norris under intense pressure even with an inferior package, ultimately finishing within a second.

‘Internally’, Verstappen has demanded a solution to Red Bull’s tyre wear problems. The first raft of upgrades could arrive as early as Japan.