Lewis Hamilton, the most successful Ferrari driver in China, is set to return to the scene of his first and only Ferrari win in 2025. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff believes that the team can close the gap with Ferrari. The Shanghai circuit, which has two long straights, is expected to be a challenge for drivers due to the new Sprint race format, which allows for more lap time for new cars and more points for the Saturday winner. Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur anticipates a colder climate and less time to adapt to strategy in China. McLaren's Lando Norris was the third fastest team in Australia after teammate Oscar Piastri crashed before the start. Red Bull hopes for better performance following a poor performance from Max Verstappen.