Max Verstappen raises crucial unknown Chinese GP factor

Max Verstappen has raised a crucial unknown factor ahead of this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix – the second round of the 2025 F1 season. 

Verstappen heads to a resurfaced Shanghai International Circuit having finished second in the Australia season-opener, narrowly behind friend and rival Lando Norris. 

The reigning world champion wrestled his RB21 throughout the weekend in Melbourne, yet had no answer to McLaren's remarkable pace. 

Norris was four tenths faster than Verstappen in qualifying and only came under threat during the race due to floor damage after running across the gravel at Turn 12 when heavy rain fell. 

Verstappen was victorious in last season's Chinese GP and also claimed the sprint win, although McLaren are very much the favourites this weekend. 

When asked by Viaplay how he feels going into the second round, Verstappen jokingly replied: "Neutral. Not too positive, not too negative. That actually works best of all. 

"If you don't put so much emotion into it, it's all a bit easier. I just focus on my car and every weekend we try to make some improvements or learn something. That's how we go into each week."

The big unknown surrounding the Chinese GP is the new track surface, which teams have just one practice session to understand due to it being a sprint event. 

With it being a new surface, grip will initially be very low on what is always a circuit which pushes the tyres to the limit. 

Verstappen is aware of the huge question mark surrounding the track, with first practice to give an indicator of how the cars and tyres will behave. 

"Here it's always pretty heavy on the tyre," added Verstappen. "Only now with that new asphalt, I have no idea what that's going to give naturally. That will be a wait and see."