F1 drivers wꦬalked the track ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix and t꧒hought it had been painted.

There were no FIA notes in advance o✅f this weekend’s race to suggest that the circuit had been resꦗurfaced.

The odd colour of the asphalt in some places led drivers to beli🌺eve paintwork had taken place.

“From the track side, it looks like they have repai🅘nted it, rather than resurfaced it,” Max Verstappen said.

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

Daniel Ricciardo noticed: "It looks like they've painted the track or something. They've done somet🍨hing to the sꦡurface.

"I don't know how the track's going to change, or if it's going to be the same or super slippery. But maybe that changes the way the tyre💜s behave."

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

A 🌞bitumen surface treatment has been appliꦡed to the track - a common practice in the US and Asia.

Bitumen is applied to the track as a fluid, to get rid of dust, and prevenꦫt disintegration of the track.

The colouring on the track, 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 lead to 🦂concern for F1 teams over grip ♛levels.

If the bitumen does erode further as F🌠1 running begins on Friday in Shanghai, the trac💮k could be left with varying levels of grip in various places.

The uncertainties around the bitumen on the 𒆙track could also lead to some big decisions surrounding which tyres to usꦉe.

Ferrari profited from gr꧙aining 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 2024 F1 sea♛son.

It is theꦇ first round to feature the brand-new sprint format, too.

There will be one practice session on Friday before sprint♛ qualifying.

The sprint race on Saturday is before qualify💦ing for the grand prix.

The Chinese Grand Prix is on Sunday.

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

“There is always ch♕aos involved which is good for Fo🎀rmula 1.

“From my side it isℱ unknown. We haven’t driven here with these new parts.

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