F1 | Chinese GP – FP1 summary: Stroll is ahead but look at the McLarens, and this is how Ferrari and Red Bull worked

If you missed Chinese Doctor FP1 here is a recap. Lance Stroll leads, with two McLarens in qualifying and not to be underestimated.

Below is a summary of FP1 of the Chinese GP, where Ferrari worked differently going to simulate the pace of the race only in the last minutes. At the same time the other teams went on looking for the fastest lap take advantage of pitch changes.

The first half hour

Activity on the track in Shanghai it starts immediately. It is important to maximize work by having only one free practice session, so that two Haas, Alpine, Stake and Stroll are out at once. The first to finish the lap is Zhou, who clocked 1.42.422 on the medium tyre, during which after a short time it is reduced. After just five minutes Verstappen won with a time of 11.39.497. Perez approaches his colleague, remaining behind him by 49 thousand.

On the song the last to go down is Ferrari, who come out of the pits after 10 minutes and both cars are fitted with Soft tyres. They placed 15th and 16th, Sainz in 1.41.109 and Leclerc in tenth place 9. George Russell was the only one who didn’t time it. He had already entered the track, but immediately returned to the pits for a change of setup.

Suddenly he is exposed Red flag, an obstacle that was really not needed due to the short time to prepare for the weekend. Inside turn 7 the grass caught fire after the curb, and it was necessary to enter the track with fire extinguishers.

After a few minutes it resumes the session and the pilots return to the runway. Carlos Sainz is improving his time. Leclerc climbs to the top in 1.39.297, behind Hulkenberg’s best so far.

And’disagree on the song even if it’s just free practice: having freed himself from Haas, Lewis Hamilton arrives at the last corner parallel to Piastri’s McLaren in the last corner, blocks the tires and has to go through the pits.

Leclerc and Sainz arrive on standardswith Monegasque inside 1.38.130 and his colleague 252 thousand away.

Half past two

Leclerc further improves his time by 40 thousand. At the same time, Red Bull starts simulation of racing speed on intermediate tireswho finished on used tires with 9 laps to go. More often for Perez than the Dutchman, but both Red Bull drivers slowed down after a few quick laps.

Two o’clock too McLaren and Mercedes are starting a long journey. Norris runs a top 1.41 with a final lap in 1.42.3. After a few laps Piastri’s story ends and in the final laps he set a top 1.42. Russell also finishes long after 14 laps, while Hamilton remains on track.

A few long trips during the return to the field first for Alonso and then for Piastri, while Sargeant continued to try to qualify, placing himself second between the two Ferraris. After a short time Albon marked all sectors fuchsia and went to the first place. This little joy for the Williams driver does not last long, because the two Red Bulls go to the track with red tires to try again for a faster pace. Verstappen won in 1.36.660and his companion follows him fifteen minutes behind.

Lewis Hamilton ends a long 11-lap run on the Hards. In the last completed lap he reduced his time to 1.41.7 compared to the 1.42 laps of previous laps. Shortly before returning Brit crashed and pinched his tire.

Haas did a good job preparing for the weekend: two drivers finished the session in 5th and 6th place. In the final minutes the two McLarens also wore red tires and showed some strength in the qualifying simulation. Oscar Piastri topped the rankings at 1,36,629while his colleague, who was doing the best lap, did not finish and returned to the pits.

In the last minutes Ferrari works for a short time for the inspiring moments recorded by the Maranello team. FP1 of the Chinese GP ends with Move in front of everyone in 1.36.302.

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Fonte copertina: @AMR_Official on X