Lewis Hamilton On Top as Chinese Grand Prix Weekend Kicks Off

The Mercedes star quickly got up to speed as Formula 1 action got underway in Shanghai, but Kimi Räikkönen ran him close at the end of day one.

byDaan de Geus|
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Lewis Hamilton looked in complete control during first practice in China, but saw his rivals creep up on him in the second Friday session later on. After out-pacing Ferrari's Kimi Räikkönen by a little over three-tenths in FP1, the Finn reduced the gap to a mere 0.007 seconds in the typically more representative FP2.

Even in First Practice, Hamilton hadn't been completely impervious, however. The four-time Formula 1 world champion spun out of turn 11 in practice one, flat-spotted a set of tires and had another brief off in practice two. Even his fastest FP2 lap-time, a 1:33.482, was set as he visibly struggled for grip.

Hamilton wasn't the only driver to do so, as low temperatures and gusts of wind made circumstances tough. Max Verstappen, Romain Grosjean, and Lance Stroll were among those to have some off-track excursions, and that was before the rain hit second practice in the closing minutes.

Before that, the outlines were drawn for what looks to be another close-fought Formula 1 battle, with Hamilton's team-mate Valtteri Bottas and championship leader Sebastian Vettel within 0.108 off of Hamilton in third and fourth. Red Bull Racing driver Verstappen finished fifth, about three-tenths down on Hamilton, indicating his team may again struggling in qualifying.

1. Lewis Hamilton/Mercedes - 1:33.482, -0.517 from FP1

2. Kimi Räikkönen/Ferrari - 1:33.489, -0.869 from FP1

3. Valtteri Bottas/Mercedes - 1:33.515, -0.942 from FP1

4. Sebastian Vettel/Ferrari - 1:33.590, -1.271 from FP1

5. Max Verstappen/Red Bull - 1:33.823, -0.845 from FP1

6. Nico Hülkenberg/Renault - 1:34.313, -1.487 from FP1

7. Kevin Magnussen/Haas - 1:34.458, -0.720 from FP1

8. Carlos Sainz/Renault - 1:34.473, -1.143 from FP1

9. Daniel Ricciardo/Red Bull - 1:34.557, +0.002 from FP1

10. Fernando Alonso/McLaren - 1:34.632, -1.412 from FP1

11. Sergio Pérez/Force India - 1:34.792, -1.259 from FP1

12. Pierre Gasly/Toro Rosso - 1:34.849, -1.188 from FP1

13. Esteban Ocon/Force India - 1:34.874, -1.477 from FP1

14. Stoffel Vandoorne/McLaren - 1:35.163, -1.593 from FP1

15. Brendon Hartley/Toro Rosso - 1:35.333, -1.382 from FP1

16. Sergey Sirotkin/Williams - 1:35.340, -1.351 from FP1

17. Marcus Ericsson/Alfa Romeo Sauber - 1:35.624, -1.285 from FP1

18. Charles Leclerc/Alfa Romeo Sauber - 1:35.916, -0.807 from FP1

19. Romain Grosjean/Haas - 1:36.471, +0.753 from FP1

20. Lance Stroll/Williams - 1:37.147, -0.130 from FP1

Mercedes and Ferrari famously have more potent qualifying engine modes after all, although Red Bull Racing is convinced it has a competitive car for race day. It looks like strategy will factor in as well. The ultra-soft (the quickest but least durable compound nominated by supplier Pirelli for this weekend) is seeing significant wear and Mercedes in particular is known for being tough on its tires.

Speaking of tires: McLaren's Stoffel Vandoorne stopped trackside with a loose wheel at the end of FP2, for which the team was fined approximately $6,000. It is the last in a series of unsafe releases from pit lane, which Formula 1's governing body FIA looking into. Vandoorne's team-mate Fernando Alonso was the quickest of the McLaren drivers, meanwhile, in 10th.

The American Haas F1 team cracked the top 10 in both sessions with Kevin Magnussen, whereas team-mate Grosjean was ninth in FP1 but ended FP2 down in P19, ahead only of Canada's Stroll of Williams. Haas once again looks competitive, but the midfield is still closely packed, with less than a second covering Renaults Nico Hulkenberg in seventh and Williams' Sergey Sirotkin in P16.

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