Inexperience of the circuit, technical layout... Will the rookies be (once again) lost during the Chinese GP?

The Australian Grand Prix, subject to changeable weather conditions, provided a tumultuous opening to the 2025 season. Formula 1 : six retirements, three safety cars and numerous track exits. The first victims of this tricky weather were obviously the rookies. Of the six this year – a first since 2010 – only the driver Mercedes Andrea Kimi Antonelli (18 years old) knew how to make the most of it: 16th at the lights out, the Italian was able to take advantage of his teammates' mistakes to cross the finish line in 4th position. A performance recognized by his team director, Toto Wolf, who is delighted with this comeback “impressive to see.”

The others suffered a disaster: Isack Hadjar, Jack Doohan, Gabriel Bortoleto and Liam Lawson all ended up in the wall and were forced to retire. Oliver Bearman, driver Haas, was able to reach the finish line... in last place, at the end of a difficult weekend for the Briton. Turn the page, stay confident and don't collapse: this is the advice that team directors have probably given to their novices. However, there may be some concern because the next meeting in China will not last long as a discovery. Due to the Sprint format, there will only be one Free Practice session before the qualifying exercise.

One hour of testing… and that’s it!

In China, there will be only one practice session, on Friday, before the Sprint Qualifying on the same day. That's enough time for these rookies to get their bearings on a circuit they know well? Not at all! Formula 2 and Formula 3 Having never been to China, the circuit will be a discovery for our novices. Thus, one hour of top time will be the maximum available in FP1 before the need to push their car in qualifying. After a rather folkloric Australian Grand Prix, more adaptation would not have been a luxury.

Esteban Ocon himself, a pilot with certain experience, recognizes that it is " a very technical layout. Turn 1, in particular, is extremely long with high entry speeds, so you really have to trust the car." Not enough to reassure the newcomers looking for a more promising weekend... Despite everything, Oliver Bearman is waiting " I'm looking forward to the first Sprint – it will be a real challenge, as I've never driven on this circuit before – but it's a challenge I'm ready to take on." The Haas driver must make up for his Australian weekend during which he made too many mistakes.

During the 2024 edition, four pilots experienced a similar situation: Guanyu-Zhou, Yuki tsunoda, Logan Sergeant and Oscar piastri. Except for the pilot Mclaren (8th on Sunday), the Chinese weekend proved difficult for the other three. Respectively 19th and 20th in qualifying, Tsunoda had retired following a collision with Magnussen while Sergeant had crossed the checkered flag in last place of those still on the track. At home, Guanyu Zhou had not necessarily shone with the modest Sauber, with a 14th place in the race.

Rookies already under pressure

Those for whom the need to do better in China is vital are Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson. The Frenchman, who crashed during the formation lap in Australia, must make a strong impression in Shanghai and wipe away the insult of his retirement last Sunday. The same fight for the New Zealander, driver Red Bull, who has nothing positive to draw from his first weekend at the parent company. Expected at the turning point by all the fervent Mexican supporters praying his shipwreck to have replaced Sergio Perez, the Kiwi must do much better. He knows that the number 2 seat at Red Bull is ejectable; only performance guarantees a good seat.

For their part, Gabriel Bortoleto and Jack Doohan arrive in China with a less lackluster performance than the Red Bull drivers. Despite their retirements, both put in encouraging performances during qualifying. In short, they are all eager to reduce Australia to an exceptional lead. To do so, a perfect performance in China is required.

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