SHANGHAI, Sept 24 (AFP) - Formula One drivers like an open road and are finding the gridlocked streets and erratic driving habits of people in Shanghai no fun at all.
While praise for Shanghai's new modern Grand Prix circuit and the glitzy downtown areas of the eastern metropolis is gushing, the bumper to bumper traffic jams are irking some.
"This place is superb but I don't understand why there are not yet any Chinese Formula One drivers, because on the roads it is mad," said Ferrari's Brazilian star Rubens Barrichello.
"They say Brazilians make good racing drivers because of our traffic, but here they should have much better ones than us. It's been difficult to get out of the hotel because of the traffic, which is unbelievable."
Ralf Schumacher agreed that the traffic was a drawback.
"It's a very nice city, there's a lot of building going on and it's supremely clean and the food's good," he said.
"The traffic though is a mess."
China has seen massive growth in car ownership over the past few years and is now the third largest auto maker in the world.