Max Verstappen symbolically led FP1 in China ahead of both Williams. The session was red flagged twice as the medical helicopter was not able to operate.
Let’s remind Antonio Giovinazzi replaced Pascal Wehrlein once again in Sauber. The session started under wet conditions following showers of rain within the last few hours. Five minutes into the session, a red flag was shown off as the medical helicopter could not take off which prevented any kind of F1 running.
After more than half an hour of interruption, the session resumed with 43 minutes to go. The driver headed out either with wet or inter tyres following each driver’s choice as the inter tyres had not been tested beforehand. Both Haas headed out on inter tyres but both drivers spun, damage less.
A few minutes later, Nico Hülkenberg spun with his inter tyres and got stuck in the gravel trap, implying the virtual safety car. Just as the virtual safety car ended, the session was red flagged again for the same reason than earlier on, involving the impossibility for the helicopter to land in Shanghai. The weather conditions were such that the local airport had to close. The session was not restarted.
Max Verstappen was ahead of Felipe Massa and Lance Stroll in a very symbolic session ahead of Sainz, Grosjean, Kvyat, Alonso, Ricciardo, Bottas and Magnussen completed the top 10 while six drivers did not complete an timed lap.
