Timo Glock: “The Chinese Grand Prix is always a great race and I’m looking forward to competing there again for the fifth time. It’s always interesting to come to Shanghai. It’s another demanding circuit where you can reach very high speeds on the long back straight between corners 13 and 14 before braking hard at the hairpin turn.
“The demands for racing at this Chinese track are to have a car that is stable under braking as well as a lot of traction to exit the corners well. I was pleased with our weekend in Malaysia and while we’re waiting for these steps to move us forward, we must try to maintain the small signs of good progress we are showing at the races.”
Jerome D’Ambrosio: “I’m ready for my third Formula One race weekend. After Australia and Malaysia, I can say that I have already learned a lot and this is going to help me keep focused for the next races. And this is what I want, to keep making small but solid steps and keep moving forward together with the team. I am very pleased with how I have started the season and I hope to continue like this.”
John Booth: “After Malaysia, we move on to another Herman Tilke designed track, which always provide a bit of everything for the drivers. It’s the third and final long-haul race before the start of the European season in Turkey, where we are planning to upgrade the car.
“The Shanghai International Circuit is a 5.451 km circuit that is all about high-speed straights and a real variety of turns, making it a demanding track for the drivers. Turns 1, 2 and 3 are very tight and seem never-ending. The back straight is so long that it even gives the driver time to adjust the settings on the car. It’s also usually quite windy at this part of the track, and this affects the downforce, as it can make the car unstable in the corners at the beginning and the end of the long straight if the wind direction is unpredictable.
“Whilst the hard work to move us forward takes place behind the scenes at our technical base in the UK, we’re in a bit of a holding pattern performance wise. The best job we can do right now is to keep pushing ourselves operationally and strategically, as we have done over the first two races, to ensure that when the car is improved we are in the strongest possible position to take advantage of every opportunity.
“This is the first back-to-back race of the season and there are only seven days between the two races, so a tough challenge for the team logistically, but one which I am sure we will easily rise to.”
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