Video: A lap around the Chinese Grand Prix circuit with Pierre Gasly

Before the Chinese Grand Prix, Pierre Gasly drove around the Shanghai circuit on a simulator and talked about some of its features, and the drivers only get a more accurate picture on the spot, because the last time they were on this circuit was almost five years ago .

Pierre Gasly: ​​​​“When approaching the last corner you always want to get out well before starting the lap. Turn 1 is very difficult – one of the most difficult of the season.

It’s very long, and you don’t want to hit the brake pedal so hard there to maintain the speed for a long time, because we reach the top very late. Then we try to get out of Turn 2 well, and then there might be a good chance to overtake, like Daniel Ricciardo did a few years ago.

We have to brake quite hard for the hairpin bend; We have to get out as correctly as possible, because then we approach a very fast bend. In qualifying we go through it full throttle and only then, already in the bend, do we slow down a little, trying to stay to the right to properly enter the next double bend to the left.

Also try to use the curb as much as possible. But artificial grass can be quite slippery, so always keep this in mind when exiting bends.

Before the straight you want to follow the correct trajectory, which will allow you to overcome the chicane, and at its exit you need to start accelerating as early as possible. It is quite a long straight and there are good opportunities to benefit from the slipstream in qualifying or the race, after which we enter the final chicane. This is also a great place to overtake. Then we go through the last bend again and try to maintain the highest possible speed. Because the route runs close to the exit, you can enter this bend at quite high speed. And now we cross the finish line…”