Having had no notification in pre-event notes from the FIA regarding any resurfacing, the colour of the asphalt – which has already worn away on the racing line in places – left some concluding that the circuit had had a paintbrush taken to it.
As Daniel Ricciardo said: "It looks like they've painted the track or something. They've done something to the surface.
"I don't know how the track's going to change, or if it's going to be the same or super slippery. But maybe that changes the way the tyres behave."
Ricciardo was not the only driver questioning what the impact would be on a weekend when teams are mindful that there is just one hour of practice before sprint qualifying starts.
World champion Max Verstappen said he hadn't seen anything like it since his karting days when efforts were made to improve grip on old tracks.
"It looks like they've painted it, not resurfaced," said the Red Bull driver.
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz explained that the situation had left drivers and team a bit confused.
"I think there are many unknowns, especially the tarmac looks like it's been treated in a very particular way," he said.
"I don't think the FIA or the teams quite understand what has been done here: if it has been a full resurface or just a weird bitumen treatment to the track.
Source: Autosport