Blistering Pace: Norris Leads Single Practice Session, Verstappen Off the Mark in Shanghai Lando Norris of McLaren set a blistering pace in the sole practice session ahead of Sprint Qualifying for the 2025 FIA Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix, held in Shanghai. Norris outpaced Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc by nearly half a second, signaling a strong start to the first Sprint weekend of the season. The session, held on a newly resurfaced and grippy track, saw warm temperatures and quick lap times from the outset. Norris’s performance has set the stage for an exciting Sprint Qualifying and race, while defending champion Max Verstappen faced challenges, finishing 16th after abandoning his Soft tyre run.
Early Benchmarks and Shifting Leaders: Norris’s Dominance Emerges The session began with rapid times, as Norris initially set a benchmark of 1:33.362, surpassing Max Verstappen’s 2024 pole lap. This marker was quickly challenged by Oscar Piastri and then Lewis Hamilton, who lowered the benchmark to 1:33.224. Leclerc and George Russell then exchanged times, with Russell emerging on top at 1:32.377. Piastri briefly split the Ferraris, securing third place just after the halfway point. Leclerc experienced a wind-induced spin at Turn 2 but continued without significant issue. However, Jack Doohan’s Alpine A525 suffered a power steering failure, leading to a red flag as his car was recovered.
Qualifying Simulations and Final Standings: Norris Takes Command Following the red flag, teams switched to Soft tyres for qualifying simulations. Leclerc initially topped the timesheets with a 1:32.103, but Norris, after correcting a small mistake at Turn 8, delivered a stunning lap of 1:31.504, securing the top spot. This time remained unchallenged until the end of the session, leaving Leclerc 0.454 seconds behind. Piastri, despite a mistake in the final corner, secured third place. Lewis Hamilton finished fourth, followed by George Russell, Nico Hülkenberg, and Alex Albon. Fernando Alonso, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and Yuki Tsunoda completed the top ten. Max Verstappen, who set his fastest time on Medium tyres and abandoned his Soft tyre run, finished 16th.
Summary:
- Lando Norris tops sole practice session in Shanghai.
- Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri follow in second and third.
- Max Verstappen finishes 16th after abandoning Soft tyre run.
- Jack Doohan’s power steering failure causes red flag.
- Warm temperatures and grippy track contribute to fast lap times.
Disclaimer: Practice results and standings are subject to change. Consult official F1 sources for accurate information.
Source: FIA
This article was crafted with assistance from Gemini
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