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
No copyright infringement intended
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Japanese GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

Before we get into our Race Re-Cap, we would like to say that our thoughts and prayers are with Jules Bianchi, his family and everyone who is deeply concerned at this time. We will have a full article on his situation later today. 

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Many will argue about this years Japanese GP. Some will say it should have been canceled, some will say it was "OK" conditions for racing. One thing is for sure.. After the race, our hearts were heavy.

The race started behind the Safety Car. Rain was light but the spray coming from the cars caused drivers poor visibility. After 2 laps, the race was Red Flagged and delayed. All drivers were told to return to their starting spots on the grid.

After a 10 minute delay, the race was back on and once again, behind the Safety Car. It was not until lap 9, that the Safety Car was called in and drivers were allowed to race. During that time, however, Fernando Alonso had retired with a Power Unit Failure.

There was hesitation on overtaking with conditions proving to be trickier than originally imagined. Still, Lewis Hamilton passed his team-mate, Nico Rosberg and took the lead of the race.

Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo were eager to overtake both Williams Martini Racing drivers, Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas. Even with rain continuing to come down in uneven showers, they showed some safe wheel-to-wheel racing.

It was told if Drivers completed 40 laps, full points would be awarded. There was a chance they would stop after lap 40, but the race continued on and the rain came down much harder. Felipe Massa admitted to screaming over the radio for the race to be stopped, but it was not.

Adrian Sutil aquaplaned off the circuit a few laps later. He climbed out of the car and a crane was called to recover his stricken Sauber. As Jules Bianchi came around on the next lap, he too aquaplaned and left the circuit. His car slid sideways into the recovery crane heavily. An Ambulance was called when Marussia did not receive a response from Bianchi on radio.

Jules was transported via Ambulance to a nearby hospital and has since underdone brain surgery. We can confirm he was unconscious but breathing on his own and is now in the ICU.

The race was Red Flagged as soon as the FIA knew of the severity of the accident. All drivers got to the hospital to be with Bianchi. They have tweeted and talked to media regarding the accident and all send their love and support to Jules and his family. 

It was a very shocking and saddening end to a very nerve-wracking race. We, in respect of the accident, post-poned any articles until we learned the condition of Jules and we are continuing to think of him and pray for him and his family. As we mentioned earlier, we will have an article on the situation later today.

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RESULTS:

1. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / + 25 Points

2. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany / + 18 Points

3. Sebastian Vettel / Red Bull-Renault / Germany / + 15 Points

4. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia / + 12 Points

5. Jenson Button / McLaren-Mercedes / Great Britain / + 10 Points

6. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland / + 8 Points

7. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil / + 6 Points

8. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany / + 4 Points

9. Jean-Eric Vergne / Toro Rosso-Renault / France / + 2 Points

10. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico / + 1 Point

11. Daniil Kvyat / Toro Rosso-Renault / Russia

12. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland

13. Esteban Gutierrez / Sauber-Ferrari / Mexico

14. Kevin Magnussen / McLaren-Mercedes / Denmark

15. Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Renault / France

16. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Renault / Venezuela

17. Marcus Ericsson / Caterham-Renault / Sweden

18. Max Chilton / Marussia-Ferrari / Great Britain

19. Kamui Kobayashi / Caterham-Renault / Japan

20. Jules Bianchi / Marussia-Ferrari / France / DNF - Accident

21. Adrian Sutil / Sauber-Ferrari / Germany / DNF - Accident

RETIRED - Fernando Alonso / Ferrari-Ferrari / Spain / Power Unit Failure

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk.

No copyright infringement intended.

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