Chinese GP: Free Practice #1 - Re-Cap & Times

CHINESE GP - FREE PRACTICE #1 - RE-CAP & TIMES

    Max Verstappen topped the times in a wet FP1, where only 14 drivers managed to set a lap time.

    Running was limited by weather conditions in Shanghai, but it wasn't the rain causing trouble. Smog made the visibility poor in the city, and the red flag was brought out only five minutes after the start of the session as the medical helicopter was unable to operate in the conditions. The weather led to the closure of the city airport, which didn't bode well for the possibility of better conditions.

    The green flag was brought out at about the midpoint of the session, only for running to be halted again 20 minutes later for the same reasons. The session was not restarted.

    In that time, drivers headed out on a mixture of wet weather and intermediate tyres, trying to get the most from the wet track. Multiple drivers including Kevin Magnussen and Felipe Massa spun in the greasy conditions, but only Renault's Nico Hulkenberg had a serious incident. The German beached his car in the gravel at turn three, bringing out the virtual safety car.

    Verstappen ended the session top with a 1:50.491, but it was nothing for the team to be enthusiastic about with such disrupted running.

    The truncated session will make FP2 even more essential as teams try race and qualifying simulations. Kevin Magnussen completed the most laps, managing to make his way around the circuit eight times plus instillation laps.

TIMES:

1. Max Verstappen - 1:50.491 / Red Bull-TAG-Heuer / Netherlands
2. Felipe Massa - 1:52.086 / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil
3. Lance Stroll - 1:52.507 / Williams-Mercedes / Canada
4. Carlos Sainz - 1:52.840 / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain
5. Romain Grosjean - 1:53.039 / Haas-Ferrari / France
6. Daniil Kvyat - 1:53.314 / Toro Rosso-Renault / Russia
7. Fernando Alonso - 1:53.520 / McLaren-Honda / Spain
8. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:54.038 / Red Bull-TAG-Heuer / Australia
9. Valtteri Bottas - 1:54.664 / Mercedes-Mercedes / Finland
10. Kevin Magnussen - 1:55.104 / Haas-Ferrari / Denmark
11. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:55.608 / Renault-Renault / Germany
12. Stoffel Vandoorne - 1:57.445 / McLaren-Honda / Belgium
13. Marcus Ericsson - 2:15.138 / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden
14. Antonio Giovinazzi - 2:15.281 / Sauber-Ferrari / Italy
15. Jolyon Palmer - No Time Set / Renault-Renault / Great Britain
16. Sebastian Vettel - No Time Set / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany
17. Kimi Raikkonen - No Time Set / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland
18. Esteban Ocon - No Time Set / Force India-Mercedes / France
19. Sergio Perez - No Time Set / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico
20. Lewis Hamilton - No Time Set / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain

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Article Written By: Bethonie Waring
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