Question marks for Verstappen: 'Don't know how we're going to perform here'

Max Verstappen is hoping to make it four wins out of five this season. The Chinese Grand Prix weekend features the first sprint race of the season. It is scheduled for Saturday and so the three-time world champion - like the rest of the field - only has one free practice to get the set-up right at the Shanghai International Circuit. Verstappen is not so sure where Red Bull Racing stand.

In recent years, the Chinese Grand Prix has not been on the calendar because of the coronavirus pandemic. The last time the Formula 1 circus touched down in the Asian country was in 2019, so the Formula One teams don't have much data. Hamilton was the fastest five years ago. Verstappen himself has never won in China, and he hopes to change that on Sunday.

"With the sprint weekend, there's always a bit more of a question mark and always a bit more chaos involved, which I guess, in a way, is a good thing for Formula One. From my side, at the moment, it's quite unknown. We haven't driven here with these new cars so I don't really know how we are going to perform here. Time will tell, I'm not too worried about it," Verstappen told Sky Sports.

Battle with Ferrari

Verstappen leads the world championship after four Grands Prix with 77 points. His nearest rival is teammate Sergio Perez with 64 points. This is followed by the Ferrari drivers: Charles Leclerc (59 points) and Carlos Sainz (55 points).

Are Ferrari posing a threat in the constructors' championship? "So far, they've been really close to us in most of the races. We really need to be on top of our own game to be able to win the races, and I definitely think that it's closer than last year, and that, of course, then naturally makes it a bit harder," said the 26-year-old Dutchman.