Lando Norris tops the only practice in China, while Red Bull struggles and Ferrari stays hot ahead of the Sprint Shootout.
Formula 1 returned to Shanghai this Friday for the second round of the 2025 season — and it kicked off early for European fans, with just one Free Practice session ahead of the Sprint Qualifying (Sprint Shootout), scheduled shortly after.
Top 5 Takeaways from Chinese GP Practice
1. Norris Strikes First: McLaren Tops Chinese Practice
2. Leclerc on the Pace as Ferrari Looks Strong
3. Verstappen Quiet: 16th Without Soft-Tyre Run
4. Hülkenberg Impresses with Surprise Top 6 Finish
5. Doohan Brings Out Red Flag After Late Breakdown
Under clear skies and mild conditions in the outskirts of Shanghai, teams took full advantage of the single practice session to gather crucial data for the Sprint weekend ahead.
Teams Bring Upgrades to Shanghai
Four teams came into the weekend with fresh upgrades. McLaren introduced new rear brake duct fins, Racing Bulls debuted a revised front wing and beam wing, Williams updated their beam wing as well, while Sauber arrived with a new engine cover.
Fast Improvements as the Track Cleans Up
George Russell set the early benchmark, but the times dropped quickly as the track rubbered in. The likes of Sainz, Gasly, Norris, Piastri, Hamilton, and Russell traded fastest laps during the opening 15 minutes, with Russell eventually clocking a 1:32.377.
Leclerc and Hamilton followed closely, while rookies Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen — slightly off the pace early on — climbed into the provisional top five. All drivers ran on medium tyres during this phase.
A Smooth Track, a Few Mistakes
Jack Doohan was impressed with the resurfaced Shanghai International Circuit, saying it felt “so smooth it’s like driving in the simulator!”
Despite the grip, a few drivers had minor slips: Albon ran wide, Lawson went through the gravel, and Hamilton locked up — but none of the incidents had consequences.
Red Flag and Final Push on Softs
Midway through, Leclerc closed the gap to Russell, as Alonso reported rear instability in his Aston Martin — likely due to a tailwind. Piastri then slotted in P3. Leclerc spun in Turn 1 later, but again without damage.
Front-left tyre wear appeared to be a concern, with Antonelli reporting blistering — a problem his engineer confirmed was affecting several cars.
A red flag was triggered when Doohan’s Alpine stopped on track with a mechanical issue, halting the session with 15 minutes to go.
Once running resumed, most drivers switched to soft tyres for a final qualifying simulation. Sainz jumped to P4, Albon surprised with P2, before Leclerc topped the times with a 1:32.103. Hamilton and Norris both improved, with Norris eventually going fastest overall.
Final Standings: Norris on Top, Red Bull Quiet
Lando Norris ended the session at the top, narrowly edging out Leclerc. Their teammates, Piastri and Hamilton, followed in third and fourth. Russell and a standout Nico Hülkenberg rounded out the top six.
Albon, Alonso, Antonelli, and Tsunoda completed the top 10. Ocon and Gasly sat 13th and 14th, while Verstappen — who didn’t run soft tyres — ended a lowly 16th. More concerning: Liam Lawson was 18th despite using the softs.
With the Sprint Qualifying up next, the pecking order remains a bit of a mystery — but for now, it’s advantage McLaren.
| Pos. | Driver | Car | Time | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Lando | McLaren | 1:31.504 | 23 |
| 02 | Charles | Ferrari | 1:31.958 | 21 |
| 03 | Oscar | McLaren | 1:32.153 | 24 |
| 04 | Lewis | Ferrari | 1:32.195 | 22 |
| 05 | George | Mercedes | 1:32.377 | 26 |
| 06 | Nico | Sauber | 1:32.507 | 21 |
| 07 | Alex | Williams | 1:32.687 | 24 |
| 08 | Fernando | Aston Martin | 1:32.766 | 23 |
| 09 | Kimi | Mercedes | 1:32.874 | 27 |
| 10 | Yuki | Racing Bulls | 1:32.934 | 23 |
| 11 | Oliver | Haas | 1:32.967 | 23 |
| 12 | Lance | Aston Martin | 1:32.984 | 19 |
| 13 | Esteban | Haas | 1:33.056 | 23 |
| 14 | Pierre | Alpine | 1:33.123 | 23 |
| 15 | Carlos | Williams | 1:33.145 | 26 |
| 16 | Max | Red Bull | 1:33.284 | 24 |
| 17 | Isack | Racing Bulls | 1:33.385 | 23 |
| 18 | Liam | Red Bull | 1:33.631 | 23 |
| 19 | Gabriel | Sauber | 1:33.822 | 24 |
| 20 | Jack | Alpine | 1:33.923 | 17 |
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Leclerc Close – But Norris Leads Tight China Practice Leclerc Close – But Norris Leads Tight China Practice
