Kimi Raikkonen led the way in practice for the Chinese Grand Prix to give Ferrari hope that they can finally challenge Formula One’s all-conquering Mercedes team.
Advertisement
Raikkonen’s lap of one minute, 36.896 seconds was 0.109 seconds quicker than Vettel’s best effort and-more importantly-0.237 seconds ahead of Nico Rosberg in the top Mercedes vehicle.
The Mercedes cars were just behind the Ferrari pair, with Nico Rosberg third and Lewis Hamilton fourth, both within half a second of Raikkonen. Ferrari also finished 1-2 in the final practice at the Bahrain GP two weeks ago before Hamilton took the pole and Rosberg won the race – his second victory of the season.
They will be helped by Hamilton’s five-place grid penalty for changing a gearbox.
Elsewhere, Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo turned in a strong showing with the fifth fastest time of the day while Max Verstappen was sixth for Toro Rosso.
Meanwhile team-mate Sebastian Vettel failed to start the last race in Bahrain due to a valve failure.
Williams, Friday’s perennial low-key runners, were 10th with Valtteri Bottas but the dramatic events of the earlier session meant there was more focus on them than usual on day one.
Williams driver Felipe Massa and Renault driver Kevin Magnussen both had tire issues in the morning session that prevented them from setting a time.
The Mercedes pair also reported problems in the morning.
The season continues with the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday.
The Spaniard was required to undergo a medical examination after opening practice, but was given the all-clear by the FIA.
He was subsequently cleared to participate for the rest of the weekend after another round of tests following that session.
“A little bit of pain, no surprises there, the rib is still a little bit fractured so that’s normal”.
McLaren driver Fernando Alonso of Spain walks along pit row ahead of the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai International Circuit in Shanghai, China, Thursday, April 14, 2016.
After Friday’s running in Shanghai, Raikkonen acknowledged Ferrari’s strength on the super-soft tyres (the softest compound available), but said, per ESPN F1’s Nate Saunders, “For whatever reason we’ve been quite struggling apart from the super-soft tyre”.
Advertisement
“Every bump you feel it, every kerb you feel it and that’s quite a worse thing but I’m happy and I’m ready to race”.
