Lando Norris made the final lap count in final attempt in lone FP1 session in F1 Chinese GP sprint weekend, ahead of Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri.
It was a busy FP1 session in F1 Chinese GP, considering that it is a sprint weekend. It didn’t start off as smooth on a fully resurfaced circuit where Williams’ Alexander Albon had a moment on the gravel at Turn 1, while Red Bull’s Liam Lawson had his own later on in the lap.
At the same time, Visa Cash App RB’s Yuki Tsunoda praised the grip levels when compared to 2024. The red flag hampered the soft tyre running but most got to use them where some did double lap. It was McLaren’s Lando Norris on top with a 1m31.504s lap to top FP1 in F1 Chinese GP.
The Brit had multiple snappy moments in the session, as he led Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in the Top 3. The Australian’s final quick lap was likely outside the track limits due to Turn 16 moment, with Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton looking much better in fourth.
The Brit too had moments along the way as he led Mercedes’ George Russell, who couldn’t get a clear run on the soft tyre. His best time remained the one he did on the medium tyres, with Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg improving to sixth on his final attempt of a fast lap on the soft tyre.
He dropped Williams’ Albon to seventh from Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Visa Cash App RB’s Tsunoda in the Top 10. Replays showed that the rear wing flap of the Japanese driver fluttering through the lap, but not fixed despite the movement.
Haas’ Oliver Bearman put the car in 11th amid difficult time for the team ahead of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, who did not have a sound run per se. The other Haas of Esteban Ocon backed his teammate in 13th, with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in 14th after the Frenchman too had his set of run-off moment.
He led Williams’ Carlos Sainz and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who aborted his lap on the soft tyre to be only 16th. Visa Cash App RB’s Isack Hadjar slotted in 17th from Red Bull’s Lawson. The Kiwi faced further troubles as the team continued to try different things with him.
Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto was 19th from Alpine’s Jack Doohan, who caused the late red flag after problems with power steering which shut his car completely. He didn’t manage to get a soft tyre run.
