Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel topped the first practice session of F1 Chinese GP from Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc at Shanghai International Circuit.
Ferrari threw the challenge to Mercedes as Vettel (1m33.911s) topped FP1 to start the F1 1000 weekend in Chinese GP from Hamilton (1m34.118s) and Leclerc (1m34.167s) – but more importantly both the Ferrari drivers set their best time on the medium compound.
A late lap from Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen (1m34.334s) put the Dutchman in fourth on the soft compound as he pushed Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas (1m34.653s) to fifth with Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo (1m35.239s) slotting in sixth.
The Australian had a new MGU-K fitted on his car along with the other Renault-powered cars as Nico Hulkenberg confirmed on Thursday. Red Bull’s Pierre Gasly (1m35.428s) finished seventh, meanwhile, with Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat (1m35.447s) in eighth.
Racing Point’s Lance Stroll (1m35.466s) did well to be ninth – the trio setting their best time on the medium compound – as Haas’ Romain Grosjean (1m35.507s) rounded out the Top 10. Stroll had a spin in the final corner early in the session.
Grosjean’s teammate Kevin Magnussen (1m35.517s) slotted 11th with Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg (1m35.591s) in 12th ahead of McLaren’s Lando Norris (1m35.631s) and Toro Rosso’s Alexander Albon (1m35.695s), who set his quick time on the medium compound.
The sole Alfa Romeo Racing of Kimi Raikkonen (1m35.729s) was 15th with McLaren’s Carlos Sainz (1m35.756s) in 16th as Racing Point’s Sergio Perez (1m35.820s) was 17th from Williams’ Robert Kubica (1m36.847s) and George Russell (1m37.619s).
Perez, Kubica and Russell set their best time on medium compound as well. Meanwhile, Alfa Romeo’s Antonio Giovinazzi had the worst start to the weekend with the Italain suffering from power loss in the two laps he managed.
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