Lando Norris tops the only practice session at the Chinese Grand Prix

Lando Norris has topped the only practice session at the completely resurfaced Shanghai International Circuit.

The two teams who everyone is expecting to fight for the championship, McLaren and Ferrari have ended as the fastest cars in the only hour to understand exactly how the new surface is going to effect the cars this weekend.

Alexander Albon and Liam Lawson both found the gravel within the first 3 corners with Albon experiencing dirty and disturbed air from Oliver Bearman causing him into the gravel at Turn 2 and the Red Bull driver understeering into the gravel at Turn 3.

Even though Lando Norris topped the time-sheets, it was not a straight forward session. The British driver went deep into the hairpin of Turn 14, had a moment of oversteer at Turn 1 and had a slide at Turn 6, all in attempts to get the maximum out of the MCL39.

The session was saw a Red Flag when Jack Doohan’s Alpine lost power steering and the engine turned off between Turns 10 and 11.

Practice 1 ended with the following times:

1. Lando Norris - 1:31.504

2. Charles Leclerc - 1:31.958 (+0.454)

3. Oscar Piastri - 1:32.153 (+0.649)

4. Lewis Hamilton - 1:32.195 (+0.691)

5. George Russell - 1:32.377 (+0.873)

6. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:32.507 (+1.003)

7. Alexander Albon - 1:32.687 (+1.183)

8. Fernando Alonso - 1:32.766 (+1.262)

9. Kimi Antonelli - 1:32.874 (+1.370)

10. Yuki Tsunoda - 1:32.934 (+1.430)

11. Oliver Bearman - 1:32.967 (+1.463)

12. Lance Stroll - 1:32.984 (+1.480)

13. Esteban Ocon - 1:33.056 (+1.552)

14. Pierre Gasly - 1:33.123 (+1.619)

15. Carlos Sainz - 1:33.145 (+1.641)

16. Max Verstappen - 1:33.284 (+1.780)

17. Isack Hadjar - 1:33.385 (+1.881)

18. Liam Lawson - 1:33.631 (+2.127)

19. Gabriel Bortoleto - 1:33.822 (+2.318)

20. Jack Doohan - 1:33.923 (+2.419)

    
    

Next up is Sprint Qualifying