Quebec driver Lance Stroll set the fastest time during the first free practice session at the Chinese Grand Prix, on the night of Thursday to Friday.
The Aston Martin driver climbed to the top of the standings with his fastest lap in the final minute of the session which was interrupted for a few minutes following a red flag because a patch of grass on the edge of the track caught fire.
Stroll recorded a time of 1:36.302 ahead of Oscar Piastri and Drivers’ Championship leader Max Verstappen. The McLaren driver finished just over three tenths of a second behind Stroll. Verstappen follows with a delay of 0.358 on the Quebecer.
Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg completed the top-5 for this session.
Follows Esteban Ocon, 7th on the timesheet. The Frenchman arrived in China with modifications made to his Alpine, which has been in great difficulty since the start of the season.
His teammate and compatriot Pierre Gasly, who has not yet benefited from the improvements on his car, finished 20th and last. The Norman driver, angry with his team at the end of the session, notably suffered from a technical problem on his car.
Acclaimed by the public, the local of the event Zhou Guanyu recorded the 11th best time. The Shanghai native, who arrived in the elite in 2022, is the first Chinese in history to compete in Formula 1 in China.
The last winner of the Chinese GP in F1 – in 2019 – Lewis Hamilton failed in 18th place on Friday, ahead of his Mercedes teammate George Russell, only 17th.
The two Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finished the session in 13th and 14th positions.
On a circuit which significantly deteriorates the rubber, thus reducing grip, the Italian team is in a good position to thwart the plans of the powerful Red Bull this weekend, since the Scuderia showed itself to be particularly efficient on this type of track. surface in the past.
You can follow all the action at the Chinese Grand Prix in our multiplex environment. It’s a return for F1 in China after an absence of four seasons. The sprint race format is also in effect this weekend.
Ranking of the session
Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:36.302
Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:36.629
Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull) 1:36.660
Sergio Pérez (MEX/Red Bull) 1:36.690
Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Haas-Ferrari) 1:37.101
Kevin Magnussen (DEN/Haas-Ferrari) 1:37.118
Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1:37.213
Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes) 1:37.229
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Racing Bulls-Red Bull) 1:37.238
Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Sauber-Ferrari) 1:37.530
Zhou Guanyu (CHN/Sauber-Ferrari) 1:37.626
Yuki Tsunoda (JPN/Racing Bulls-Red Bull) 1:38.006
Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari) 1:38.090
Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Ferrari) 1:38.284
Logan Sargeant (USA/Williams-Mercedes) 1:38.286
Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes) 1:38.630
George Russell (GBR/Mercedes) 1:38.806
Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 1:38.839
Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Mercedes) 1:38.936
Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Renault) 1:39.276
