F1 drivers walked the track 💧ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix and thought it had been painted.

There weꦕre no FIA notes in advanc🐎e of this weekend’s race to suggest that the circuit had been resurfaced.

The odd colour of the asphalt in some places led drivers to believe paintwork had 𒐪🐼taken place.

“From the track side, it looks like they have repainted it, rather than resurfac🍌ed it,” Max Verstappen said.

"I don't know what that does to the grip of the track, so that's 🐻soဣmething we have to get on top of.”

Daniel Riccia🍰rdo noticed: "It looks like they've painted the track or something. They've done𓃲 something to the surface.

"I donꦰ't know how the track's going to cꦡhange, or if it's going to be the same or super slippery. But maybe that changes the way the tyres behave."

But, 𝓀the track at the F1 Chinese Grand Prix has not been painted.

A bitumen surface treatment has been applied to the track - a commo﷽n practice in the US and Asia.

Bitumen is applieꦏd to the track as a fluid, to get rid of dust, and prevent 🗹disintegration of the track.

The colouring on the tr𝓰ack, mistaken for paint by F1 drivers, is actually just the bitumen wearing away in certain areas.

It was applied roughly a year ago.

That may l🍃ead to concern for F1 teams over grip 🍃levels.

If the bitumen does erode further as F1 running begins on Friday in Shanghaiꦜ, the track could be left with varying le🅘vels of grip in various places.

The uncertainties around ﷺthe bitumen on the track could also lead to some big decisions surrounding which tyres to us🐎e.

Fer𝓀rari profited from graining at the Australia Grand Prix, whereas Red Bull typically excel with tyre deg.

F1 has never tested its latest generation of cars at the Shanghai♊ International Circuit.

And,♍ the Chinese Grand Prix is the first sprint weekend of the 2♎024 F1 season.

It is the f🌞irst round to feature the brand-new sprint format, too.

There♊ wil🐎l be one practice session on Friday before sprint qualifying.

The sprint race on 🗹Saturday is before qua♊lifying for the grand prix.

The Chinese Grand Prix is on Sunday.

“The sprint weekend ♔is always a question mark,” Verstappen said.

“There is alwa🧸ys chaos involved which is good for Formula 1.

“From my side it is unknown. We haven’t driven here with th𝕴ese newꦅ parts.

“So I don’t know how we will perform here.”