Lando Norris showcased exceptional pace during the Chinese Grand Prix's sole practice session, setting a commanding benchmark ahead of Charles Leclerc's Ferrari.

Norris clocked a remarkable 1m31.504s on the freshly resurfaced Shanghai International Circuit, which proved 2.156s faster than last year's pole position time. The new tarmac delivered significantly improved grip, with the track surface evolving rapidly throughout the session.

Charles Leclerc secured second place, 0.454s behind Norris, while Oscar Piastri looked set for a McLaren 1-2 before a mistake at the final corner relegated him to third. Lewis Hamilton claimed fourth for Ferrari, followed by George Russell in fifth.

Key session highlights:

• Jack Doohan's Alpine stopped between Turns 10-11, causing a brief interruption
• Red Bull struggled unexpectedly, with Verstappen 16th and Lawson 18th
• Track temperatures reached 102°F, causing left-front tire blistering concerns
• The entire field used soft compounds after the session restart

Top 10 finishers:

1. Lando Norris (McLaren)
2. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.454s
3. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.632s
4. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +0.691s
5. George Russell (Mercedes)
6. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
7. Alex Albon
8. Fernando Alonso
9. Andrea Kimi Antonelli
10. Yuki Tsunoda

Notable mentions include Oliver Bearman's first complete practice session for Haas in 11th, while Doohan finished last after his car's early shutdown prevented a soft-tire run before Sprint qualifying.

Related Articles

Previous Articles