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Hamilton marks his territory

Lewis Hamilton set the best time in the China Grand Prix Free Practice 2, slightly before than Fernando Alonso, who set the second best time. Rosberg, Ricciardo and Vettel complete the TOP 5.

After seeing that Fernando Alonso, who installed a new Power Unit this weekend, excelled unexpectedly during the first session, Lewis Hamilton could not contain and put his Mercedes in front of the second free practise.

 

However, Alonso was really close. Marco Mattiaci, Ferrari’s new director after Stefano Domenicali’s demission, left the circuit satisfied. His first driver set the best time during the first session and the mechanics solved the electronic issues with Kimi Räikkönen’s car so he could leave the box in half an hour from the start of the session and set the seventh best time, still without feeling confortable with his car.

 

Who could better solve their problems (this time suspension problems) were Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton, who could not leave the box until passed fifteen minutes but then set the fastest lap. Mercedes are using a new front wing that finally past the FIA crash-test, after trying for three times. Nico Rosberg was third.

 

The environment in Shanghai was cold and cloudy. The teams were testing tyres and we could see how these suffer because of the continuous lock-ups. This session was really important, as tomorrow heavy rain is expected (despite a dry race) and new adjustements will not be tested.

 

The second star of the day was Pastor Maldonado, who after going continuously off-track crashed his Lotus in the pit-lane entrance, in a resounding mistake.

 

Daniel Ricciardo, disappointed after losing the appellation for Australian Grand Prix’s disqualify, overcomed Sebastian Vettel. With fourth and fifth, Red Bull drivers will try to input some pressure over the first row.

 

Williams are demonstrating strength in a circuit that favours them. In the other side, Force India could not put any car in the TOP 10.

 

We will see how tomorrow’s rainy day develops.

 

Free Practise 2 results:

 

Pos No Driver Team Time/Retired Gap Laps
1 44 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:38.315 25
2 14 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:38.456 0.141 28
3 6 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:38.726 0.411 30
4 3 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing-Renault 1:38.811 0.496 30
5 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault 1:39.015 0.700 31
6 19 Felipe Massa Williams-Mercedes 1:39.118 0.803 25
7 7 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:39.283 0.968 25
8 22 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:39.491 1.176 29
9 8 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1:39.537 1.222 36
10 26 Daniil Kvyat STR-Renault 1:39.648 1.333 26
11 27 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1:39.736 1.421 30
12 20 Kevin Magnussen McLaren-Mercedes 1:39.744 1.429 29
13 25 Jean-Eric Vergne STR-Renault 1:39.759 1.444 28
14 77 Valtteri Bottas Williams-Mercedes 1:39.830 1.515 25
15 11 Sergio Perez Force India-Mercedes 1:40.124 1.809 32
16 21 Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 1:40.359 2.044 32
17 99 Adrian Sutil Sauber-Ferrari 1:40.395 2.080 30
18 13 Pastor Maldonado Lotus-Renault 1:40.455 2.140 12
19 17 Jules Bianchi Marussia-Ferrari 1:42.327 4.012 27
20 4 Max Chilton Marussia-Ferrari 1:43.473 5.158 30
21 10 Kamui Kobayashi Caterham-Renault 1:43.530 5.215 32
22 9 Marcus Ericsson Caterham-Renault 1:43.679 5.364 32