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

There were no FIA notes⛦ in advance 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 pain🌱twork had taken place.

“From the track side, it looks like they ha✃ve repainted 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 tr༒ack or something. They've done something to the surface.

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

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

A bitumen surface treatment has been applied to the track - a common pract♋ice in the US and Asia.

Bitumen is applied to the track as a💛 fluid, to get ꧒rid of dust, and prevent disintegration of the track.

The colouring on the track, mistaken for paint by F1 drivers, is actually just the bitumen wea✱rin𒅌g 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 F1 running begins on Friday in Shanghai, the track could be left with varying levels of grip in various places.

ꩲThe uncertai🌱nties around the bitumen on the track could also lead to some big decisions surrounding which tyres to use.

Ferrari profited from graining at the Au🥃stralia Grand Prix, whereas Red Bul🧜l typically excel with tyre deg.

F1 has never tested its latest generation of cars at the Shangh♓ai International Circuit.

And, the Chinese Grand 🎉Prix is the first sprint weekend of the 2024ꦰ F1 season.

It iꦆs the fꦺirst round to feature the brand-new sprint format, too.

Th🃏ere will be one practice session on Friday 🙈before sprint qualifying.

The sprint race on Saturday is before qualifying fo🌳r the grand prix.

The Chinese Grand Prix is on Sunday.

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

“There is always cha🃏os involved which is good for Formula 1.

“From my side it is unk๊♒nown. We haven’t driven here with these new parts.

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