The champion is back in town and he can sense the buzz in the air already. But poor Jenson Button isn’t feeling it ahead of this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix.
Lewis Hamilton is psyched ahead of his return to a familiar stomping ground and, having won the race for a third time last year, he has a certain fondness for the Shanghai course.
“Shanghai is one of my favourite locations, simply because of the fans,” the world champion said on the Mercedes website.
“I don’t know how but, from the moment we land at the airport, they know we’re there. It really is amazing to see the support we get. The circuit itself is a different challenge to Albert Park and Sepang – but it’s one I really enjoy and it suits my driving style quite well.
“I won the race last year and have only finished outside of the podium places twice, so the target is definitely to build on that and get back to the front.”
Button, meanwhile, isn’t expecting the same kind of buzz. McLaren are yet to accumulate a point this season and there’s a feeling the car won’t be suited to the climate in China.
“There is a feeling that the expected cooler weather will make it harder to generate tyre temperature,” Button explained. “[That] could mean that any progress we make doesn’t necessarily translate to a lap time benefit.
“China’s two long straights – each preceded by slow-to-medium-speed corners – will place extra emphasis on the power unit.”
It could be quite a different race for the two Englishmen as the clock ticks down to Sunday’s main event.
