Late red flag at Chinese Grand Prix after Ferrari star spins off track
Late Red Flag Disrupts Teams’ Plans in Chinese Grand Prix Practice
The first practice session for the Chinese Grand Prix was marred by a late red flag, which threw teams’ plans into disarray. With just over 10 minutes remaining, Jack Doohan’s car came to a halt on track, prompting a pause in proceedings as the Australian’s car was recovered.
The brief interruption had a significant impact on the session, as teams were left scrambling to complete their qualifying simulation runs. The resulting chaos saw drivers jostling for track position, all eager to make the most of the limited time available.
Despite the challenges, Lando Norris managed to set a blistering pace, clocking a time that was nearly half a second faster than his closest rivals. His lap was also just four tenths shy of Sebastian Vettel’s record time, set in qualifying back in 2018.
The early stages of the session saw a couple of drivers take unplanned excursions into the gravel, with Alex Albon and Liam Lawson both losing control of their cars. However, the resurfaced track in Shanghai proved to be a pleasant surprise, offering significantly more grip than expected.
As a result, drivers were able to lap several seconds faster than they had in 2024. Yuki Tsunoda was particularly enthusiastic, praising the improved grip over the team radio.
The most dramatic moment of the session belonged to Charles Leclerc, who spun his Ferrari 180 degrees as he lost traction in the middle of Turn 2. Fortunately, the Monegasque driver managed to keep his car out of the wall, avoiding any significant damage.
The incident served as a reminder of the challenges posed by the Shanghai circuit, which demands a delicate balance of speed and control. As the teams regroup and reassess their strategies, they will be eager to make the most of the remaining practice sessions and fine-tune their cars for the challenges ahead.
With the Chinese Grand Prix shaping up to be a closely contested event, every advantage will count. The teams will be pouring over their data, searching for any edge that can help them gain a competitive advantage. As the weekend unfolds, fans can expect a thrilling display of speed, skill, and strategy, with the drivers and teams pushing themselves to the limit in pursuit of victory.
F1 FP1 Results: Chinese Grand Prix 2025
1. Lando Norris [McLaren] – 1:31.504sec
2. Charles Leclerc [Ferrari] – +0.454sec
3. Oscar Piastri [McLaren] – +0.649sec
4. Lewis Hamilton [Ferrari] – +0.691sec
5. George Russell [Mercedes] – +0.873sec
6. Nico Hulkenberg [Kick Sauber] – +1.003sec
7. Alex Albon [Williams] – +1.183sec
8. Fernando Alonso [Aston Martin] – +1.262sec
9. Kimi Antonelli [Mercedes] – +1.370sec
10. Yuki Tsunoda [Racing Bulls] – +1.430sec
11. Oliver Bearman [Haas] – +1.463sec
12. Lance Stroll [Aston Martin] – +1.480sec
13. Esteban Ocon [Haas] – +1.552sec
14. Pierre Gasly [Alpine] – +1.619sec
15. Carlos Sainz [Williams] – +1.641sec
16. Max Verstappen [Red Bull] – +1.780sec
17. Isack Hadjar [Racing Bulls] – +1.881sec
18. Liam Lawson [Red Bull] – +2.127sec
19. Gabriel Bortoleto [Kick Sauber] – +2.318sec
20. Jack Doohan [Alpine] – +2.419sec
Who is the current F1 world champion?
Max Verstappen is the reigning F1 champion, won his fourth drivers’ championship last year.
Sprint qualifying will take place later on Friday, 21 March at 7:30am GMT.
