By Alan Baldwin
SHANGHAI, April 13 (Reuters) – McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton laid
down a marker in first practice for the Chinese Formula One
Grand Prix on Friday, banging in the quickest lap of the session
after spending much of the morning in the garage.
The 2008 world champion, last year’s winner and the only
driver to have triumphed twice in Shanghai, completed only seven
laps but topped the timing screens with a best time of one
minute 37.106 seconds.
His hopes of securing a third pole in three races have
already vanished however after his team said on Thursday that
the Briton will pick up a five place grid penalty for an
unscheduled gearbox change.
With a damp start to the session after overnight rain,
Hamilton appeared happy to save his tyres in the knowledge that
he will need every strategic advantage on Sunday if he is to
celebrate a first win of the season.
Mercedes’ German pairing of Nico Rosberg and Michael
Schumacher, whose 91st and last career win came at the Shanghai
circuit with Ferrari in 2006, were second and third quickest
respectively.
Rosberg, whose team saw off a protest by rivals Lotus on
Thursday against their controversial rear wing, was 1.010 off
Hamilton’s pace.
Mexican Sergio Perez, who took his Sauber to a stunning
second place in Malaysia last month, was fourth ahead of
Japanese team mate Kamui Kobayashi.
Champions Red Bull had Australian Mark Webber and Germany’s
double champion Sebastian Vettel sixth and seventh while
Ferrari’s championship leader Fernando Alonso lapped 11th
fastest.
Vettel, who has yet to win this season or qualify on the
front row after dominating 2011, was using a different exhaust
set-up to Webber.
Force India’s French reserve Jules Bianchi made his practice
debut, replacing Britain’s Paul Di Resta for the session.
Other less familiar Friday names included Finnish reserve
Valtteri Bottas for Williams and Dutch driver Giedo van der
Garde for Caterham.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Nick Mulvenney)
