Oscar Piastri shares one difficulty McLaren might face ahead of ‘chaotic’ Chinese Grand Prix

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For the first time since 2019, the Chinese Grand Prix returns to the Formula 1 calendar and McLaren driver Oscar Piastri has been previewing the race in Shanghai.

It would be a surprise to see Lewis Hamilton retain his crown in China after winning the last event five years ago.

Speaking on The Fast and The Curious Podcast, Piastri was talking about one main difficulty McLaren and the rest of the grid face next weekend.

McLaren star Oscar Piastri previews ‘chaotic’ Chinese Grand Prix

Since the first race at the Shanghai International Circuit in 2004, the Chinese Grand Prix was a staple event on the calendar until the disrupted 2020 season.

After five years of waiting, Formula 1 finally returns with plenty of drivers heading to the circuit for the first time.

Zhou Guanyu finally gets to compete at his home event after three years in the sport and desperately needs a good weekend with pressure beginning to rise on the 24-year-old.

After a year of learning new circuits during his rookie year in Formula 1, Oscar Piastri has to use those skills again during the Chinese Grand Prix.

The young Australian has had another very good start to the season, although he’ll want to bounce back from a tough race in Japan last weekend.

He was outwitted by Fernando Alonso who used him to protect himself from an oncoming George Russell and eventually made a mistake that gave the Mercedes driver the last to overtake him on the final lap.

READ MORE: McLaren driver Oscar Piastri’s life outside F1 from height to girlfriend

Formula 1 is heading to China once again

Asked about F1’s return to China being a Sprint weekend, Piastri said: “It’s difficult for the teams definitely to set up the car for that.

“I think the way the format is this year is a bit more forgiving.

“I mean last year I think one of the issues that most of the teams and drivers had was once you finished practice, you couldn’t adjust the set-up from then on.

“So, hopefully, this year we won’t have any kind of issues like that because we will be able to change the car after the Sprint.

“If we want to change stuff, we can change it for Grand Prix qualifying and the Grand Prix.

“So, I think from that aspect it will be OK, just if there’s any track issues or it’s the first time we’re running this generation of car there, so there’s some unknowns on how to react to curbs and bumps.

“I think that’s our only real concern but I think it should be OK and should be chaotic being a Sprint.”

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Oscar Piastri’s future isn’t completely set despite long-term McLaren contract

The Chinese Grand Prix will be a tough event for Piastri and his rivals given the Sprint Race aspect.

It means less time to learn the circuit and perfect their set-up before competitive running.

Oscar Piastri is one of a handful of drivers not racing for their future in Formula 1 right now.

He’s on a long-term deal with McLaren, but that doesn’t mean their rivals aren’t taking a closer look at the 23-year-old.

Red Bull are big fans of Piastri and should Max Verstappen decide to leave the team, he’s one driver they’re considering as a replacement.

It would be a real surprise to see Piastri move on given how well he’s doing with McLaren, but stranger things have happened in Formula 1…