Sebastian Vettel maintained Ferrari’s strong pace from Bahrain as he led the way through the opening practice session for Formula 1’s Chinese Grand Prix.
Vettel – and Ferrari – used only the Medium compound tyre during the first 90-minute session in overcast conditions at Shanghai to post a time of 1:33.911.
That left him 0.207s clear of reigning World Champion Lewis Hamilton, who set his best effort on the softer compound, as Ferrari appeared to preserve its straight-line speed advantage.
Charles Leclerc, as with team-mate Vettel, completed his entire run plan on Mediums and placed third, just 0.049s behind Hamilton, while Max Verstappen placed fourth for Red Bull.
Championship leader Valtteri Bottas was fifth, joining team-mate Hamilton in using Softs, but finished 0.742s off Vettel’s pace-setting benchmark.
Daniel Ricciardo showed improved form for Renault to classify sixth, as Pierre Gasly’s subdued run continued in seventh, over a second adrift of Red Bull team-mate Verstappen.
Gasly also picked up a fine for speeding in the pit lane.
Less than four-tenths of a second split seventh-placed Gasly from Sergio Perez, who propped up the rear of the midfield in 17th spot.
Gasly finished just 0.019s clear of lead Toro Rosso driver Daniil Kvyat as Lance Stroll recovered from an early off to place ninth, leaving Haas duo Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen to take 10th and 11th.
Following impressive displays in Bahrain neither McLaren nor Alfa Romeo had a representative in the top 10.
Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz Jr. were 13th and 16th respectively, while Kimi Raikkonen classified 15th, as inexperienced team-mate Antonio Giovinazzi failed to complete a timed lap.
The Italian mustered just two laps due to an engine installation problem in his C38, with Alfa Romeo undertaking extensive checks to establish the cause.
It at least left Williams off the bottom of the classification but its two drivers again finished with the slowest timed efforts.
Robert Kubica was over a second behind nearest midfield rival Perez, and 2.9s down on Vettel, while George Russell’s best time was 0.7s off his team-mate’s lap.
