#Vettel puts @ScuderiaFerrari on top in FP1. #F1 #ChineseGP #Race1000
Sebastian Vettel, #5, Scuderia Ferrari SF90, Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix 2019 Free Practice One Session, Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai, China. Image credit to SkySportsF1.com.
Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel tops the time-sheets in the opening practice session at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.
Vettel posted the benchmark time of a 1:33.911 set on the C3 yellow-marked Pirelli medium compounds and was 0.207 seconds quicker than Bahrain GP winner Lewis Hamilton who was running the softer C4 tyre.
Charles Leclerc rounded out the top three in the other Ferrari and was a further 0.256 seconds off of team-mate Vettel’s effort also running the medium rubber like the German.
The Scuderia ran the engine, which developed into a major issue and costed Leclerc his maiden victory under the lights in Sakhir, but the Maranello squad resolved the problem and the power-unit was good to go again.
Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen put his Honda-powered RB15 fourth on the time-sheets and ahead of championship leader Valtteri Bottas who completes the top five in the Silver Arrow,
Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo, who comes to the Shanghai International Circuit yet to score his first points this season was sixth quickest and ahead of Pierre Gasly’s Red Bull and Toro Rosso’s Daniil Kvyat who were seventh and eighth respectively.
Racing Point’s Lance Stroll took an early spin at the final corner but the Canadian finished opening practice ninth fastest and in-front of Haas F1 Team’s Romain Grosjean who completed the top ten and was 1.606 adrift of Vettel’s benchmark.
Kevin Magnussen followed in 11th place in the other VF-19 Haas and ahead of Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg who took 12th and the lead McLaren of Lando Norris who was 13th.
The other Toro Rosso of Alexander Albon finished the opening 90 minute session in 14th in-front of Alfa Romeo Racing’s Kimi Raikkonen who was 15th and the second MCL34 McLaren of Carlos Sainz who placed 16th.
SportPesa Racing Point’s Sergio Perez took a low 17th and finished ahead of both Williams FW42’s of Robert Kubica and George Russell who were 18th and 19th respectively.
The other C38 Alfa Romeo of Antonio Giovinazzi ended the session at the rear due to an engine installation issue, which forced the Italian to only run a couple of installation laps and was unable to set a lap time.
Free Practice Two will start in one hour and 40 minutes time.
Formula 1 Heineken Chinese Grand Prix Free Practice 1 Classification
| POS | DRIVER | TIME | GAP | LAPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Â | 1:33.911 | 19 | |
| 2 | Â | 1:34.118 | +0.207s | 21 |
| 3 | Â | 1:34.167 | +0.256s | 21 |
| 4 | Â | 1:34.334 | +0.423s | 20 |
| 5 | Â | 1:34.653 | +0.742s | 23 |
| 6 | Â | 1:35.239 | +1.328s | 23 |
| 7 | Â | 1:35.428 | +1.517s | 23 |
| 8 | Â | 1:35.447 | +1.536s | 24 |
| 9 | Â | 1:35.466 | +1.555s | 25 |
| 10 | Â | 1:35.507 | +1.596s | 24 |
| 11 | Â | 1:35.517 | +1.606s | 25 |
| 12 | Â | 1:35.591 | +1.680s | 22 |
| 13 | Â | 1:35.631 | +1.720s | 24 |
| 14 | Â | 1:35.695 | +1.784s | 26 |
| 15 | Â | 1:35.729 | +1.818s | 23 |
| 16 | Â | 1:35.756 | +1.845s | 24 |
| 17 | Â | 1:35.820 | +1.909s | 24 |
| 18 | Â | 1:36.847 | +2.936s | 27 |
| 19 | Â | 1:37.619 | +3.708s | 29 |
| 20 | Â | 2 |
