adminSHANGHAI. — Lewis Hamilton fended off Kimi Raikkonen to claim the bragging rights over his rivals in both free practice sessions for the Chinese Grand Prix yesterday but the Finn’s Ferrari showed enough pace to worry Mercedes.
Hamilton, who edged out teammate Nico Rosberg in the opening session, lapped the 5.451-km ShanghaiInternational Circuit in one minute, 37.219 seconds in latter 90-minute run to shade Raikkonen by just four-tenths of a second.
“Generally the car was feeling good and it was nice to get the running and the preparations. Hopefully that will stand me in good stead,” Hamilton told the BBC.
FIRST FREE PRACTICE SESSION TIMES
1. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes 1:39.033
2. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes 1:39.574
3. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Ferrari 1:40.157
4. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari 1:40.661
5. Felipe Nasr (Brazil) Sauber – Ferrari 1:41.012
6. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) RedBull – Renault 1:41.029
7. Daniil Kvyat (Russia) RedBull – Renault 1:41.097
8. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain) Toro Rosso – Renault 1:41.112
9. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Williams-Mercedes 1:41.303
10. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Williams-Mercedes 1:41.304
11. Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Lotus – Mercedes 1:41.335
12. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Toro Rosso – Renault 1:41.575
13. Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren 1:41.845
14. Marcus Ericsson (Sweden) Sauber – Ferrari 1:41.918
15. Jolyon Palmer (Britain) Lotus – Mercedes 1:41.967
16. Sergio Perez (Mexico) Force India – Mercedes 1:42.141
17. Fernando Alonso (Spain) McLaren 1:42.161
18. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Force India – Mercedes 1:42.184
19. Will Stevens (Britain) Marussia – Ferrari 1:45.379
20. Roberto Merhi (Spain) Marussia – Ferrari 1:46.443
SECOND FREE PRACTICE SESSION TIMES
1. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes 1:37.219
2. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari 1:37.662
3. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) RedBull – Renault 1:38.311
4. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Ferrari 1:38.339
5. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes 1:38.399
6. Daniil Kvyat (Russia) RedBull – Renault 1:38.737
7. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Williams-Mercedes 1:38.850
8. Felipe Nasr (Brazil) Sauber – Ferrari 1:39.032
9. Romain Grosjean (France) Lotus – Mercedes 1:39.142
10. Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren 1:39.275
11. Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Lotus – Mercedes 1:39.444
12. Fernando Alonso (Spain) McLaren 1:39.743
13. Marcus Ericsson (Sweden) Sauber – Ferrari 1:39.751
14. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Toro Rosso – Renault 1:39.894
15. Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain) Toro Rosso – Renault 1:39.971
16. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Force India – Mercedes 1:40.151
17. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Williams-Mercedes 1:40.423
18. Sergio Perez (Mexico) Force India – Mercedes 1:40.868
19. Roberto Merhi (Spain) Marussia – Ferrari 1:42.973
20. Will Stevens (Britain) Marussia – Ferrari 1:44.564. — Reuters.
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