The Chinese Grand Prix is now just days away as F1 teams brace themselves for the return of the controversial sprint race. It's Max Verstappen who will arrive in Shanghai as the man to beat, 18 points clear of team-mate Sergio Perez after his win in Japan. But Verstappen is just one of a host of top drivers whose future is the subject of speculation as Mercedes continue their pursuit of a replacement for Lewis Hamilton.

F1 is heading back to the Shanghai International Circuit for the first time in five years. Back in 2019, it was then world champion Hamilton who prevailed, with Verstappen down in fourth.

This weekend signifies a new weekend format, with sprint race qualifying taking place on Friday with the shortened race itself being hled Saturday morning. And the Red Bull driver isn't happy that the FIA are using China to experiment their new schedule

"I think it's not great, let's say like that, to do that," said Verstappen. "Because when you have been away from a track for quite a while, I think you never know what you're going to experience, right? So it would have been better to have a normal race weekend there."

Express Sport brings you all the latest F1 news below...