Ferrari's driver Lewis Hamilton. AFP
Image: Fadel Senna / AFP
If there was any doubt this season as to which car is the one to beat, Lando Norris in the McLaren just solidified their front runner status in China during the sole practice.
The teams are at the Shanghai International Circuit where the second race of the season is about to get under way.
Norris posted a lap time of 1:31:504, with Ferrari’s Charles Le Clerc was the closest behind him at +0.454s. McLaren’s second driver Oscar Piastri came third in practice, despite a slip up on the final corner of his run.
Red Bull’s Liam Lawson found the gravel early on into practice and has not managed to change the trajectory of his start in F1 yet. Max Verstappen did not post a full run and ended off the day after aborting his session on the soft tyre compound.
Verstappen ended the session in P16, and with suffering below him suffering car problems, including Racing Bulls’ Isack Hadjar, Lawson in the Red Bull, Gabriel Bortolet from Kick Sauber and Alpine’s Jack Doohan.
Hamilton looked like he found some footing in the Ferrari, finishing P4 in practice, finishing above former teammate George Russell in the Mercedes.
Doohan experienced a power outage midway through a run and pulled off the track, prompting the red flag. Drivers then opted to go for a soft tyre run, which is when Le Clerc and Norris started picking up the pace.
Nico Hulkenberg managed to run 6th best of the day in the Kick Sauber. Williams Racing's Alex Albon followed in seventh, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and the Racing Bulls of Yuki Tsunoda completing the top 10.
Teams will have until Saturday 3:30 pm [Shanghai time] to review the data from practice and adjust the cars accordingly before the final Spring Qualifying round begins.