Lando Norris Dominates FP1 at Chinese Grand Prix, Leading Ferrari’s Chal….read more
Lando Norris set a commanding pace in the opening practice session of the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, clocking a 1:31.504 and finishing nearly half a second ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. The session, which took place on the newly resurfaced Shanghai International Circuit, saw McLaren and Ferrari rise to the forefront as drivers settled into the weekend’s first practice session.
Initial Pacesetters and Early Struggles
The session kicked off with Oliver Bearman setting the early pace at 1:39, before Mercedes’ George Russell made his mark with a quicker 1:35.1 on medium Pirelli tyres. However, the real competition emerged when the teams switched to soft tyres. McLaren’s Norris, along with teammate Oscar Piastri, quickly jumped to the top of the timesheets. Norris, in particular, asserted his dominance, taking control of the session with a blistering 1:31.504.
Challenges for Top Drivers
As the session unfolded, several drivers faced difficulties. Alex Albon had a notable off-track moment, running wide and through the gravel, reporting an issue with his pedals. Others, like Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso, struggled with handling issues, including “bouncing and oversteering” for Sainz and wind-related problems for Alonso. Lewis Hamilton, who was dealing with suspension changes in his Ferrari, joined the fray late, posting a competitive 1:33.2 before the final round of laps.
Leclerc’s Spin and Norris’ Final Push
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who had been pushing to challenge for the top spot, spun off into the gravel, which allowed Norris to further solidify his position. Leclerc’s mistake left him second, 0.454 seconds behind Norris. In the closing minutes, Norris found extra pace, setting a purple sector and improving his time to an unbeatable 1:31.504. His teammate, Piastri, also posted strong times, finishing third, just 0.649 seconds behind Norris.
Max Verstappen’s Struggles
Despite being one of the favorites for pole, Max Verstappen’s performance was disappointing in FP1. The Red Bull driver finished in 16th place after failing to complete a flying lap on the soft tyres, leaving him far down the order.
Final FP1 Standings
- Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:31.504
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.454
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.649
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +0.691
- George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.873
- Nico Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber) – +1.003
- Alexander Albon (Williams) – +1.183
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +1.262
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +1.370
- Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls) – +1.430
Norris’ impressive performance set the tone for the weekend, with McLaren looking strong as they aim to challenge Ferrari, Mercedes, and Red Bull for supremacy at the Shanghai circuit. The session ended with a red flag due to Jack Doohan’s early retirement after an issue with his car, but the action-packed FP1 provided plenty of insights ahead of the rest of the weekend.
