Norris dominates the only practice session in China with a McLaren that is emerging as the favorite

Lando Norris set the fastest time in the weekend's only practice session. Despite a small mistake in the first sector, the McLaren driver posted an impressive 1:31.504, cementing his position as the fastest. Behind him, Charles Leclerc and Oscar Piastri completed the top three, showing great pace ahead of qualifying.

Photo: Mclaren

As this was the first weekend with a Sprint format, and with this being the only practice session, the teams made the most of the track time to test as many setups as possible.

In the first part of the session, they focused on race pace, with drivers from the four strongest teams—McLaren, Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes—posting times between the high 1:36s and high 1:37s. In this regard, Lando Norris stood out as the fastest, showing great performance on long runs.

On the other hand, the track conditions are different compared to last year, as the circuit was completely resurfaced, which has increased grip. This change has benefited the drivers in some sections, but has also created challenges in others.

This track is characterized by extremely demanding corners, where it is difficult to keep the car within the limits. During the session, several drivers experienced complications, going off the track or even hitting the gravel. It is a circuit that is unforgiving, as braking at the right moment is key in many corners; otherwise, the cars can end up off the track.

In the final minutes of the session, the drivers began qualifying tests, simulations using less fuel and focusing on single-lap speed.

However, with 10 minutes remaining, a red flag arrived. Alpine driver Jack Doohan experienced a complication with his car when it suddenly shut down, indicating possible problems with the electrical system. This prevented him from completing his single-lap speed test and evaluating the performance of the softer tires that will be used throughout the weekend.

Lando Norris set the pace and took the fastest time of the session, beating Charles Leclerc by almost half a second, once again positioning McLaren as the favorite for the weekend.

Ferrari also looked very competitive, with both drivers in strong form, while Oscar Piastri placed third, reaffirming the Woking team's strong performance.

Mercedes, meanwhile, showed good feelings, showing potential for qualifying and the race. Although Max Verstappen failed to complete his fastest lap, the Dutch driver and his Red Bull remain clear contenders.

Among the session's surprises, Nico Hülkenberg impressed in his Sauber, achieving a remarkable sixth place, just 1.003 seconds behind Norris's best time. Alex Albon also stood out in his Williams, consolidating the team's strong performance since last weekend.

Finally, Fernando Alonso and Aston Martin are emerging as strong contenders in the fight for midfield, alongside Sauber and Williams, in what promises to be a close battle this weekend.

On the other hand, the Haas drivers once again experienced some difficulties on track, albeit with slightly improved performance compared to last weekend. Despite remaining at the bottom of the standings, the team appears to be finding some improvements in their car, which could help them fight for better positions in qualifying and the race.

Similarly, the Alpine drivers also experienced complications, but in their case, due to car issues, which limited their performance during the session. 

Top 5 :

Lando Norris 1.31.504

Leclerc 1.31.958

Piastri 1.32.153

Hamilton 1.32.195

Russell 1.32.377