P1racenews AI automatic summary:
One of the most bizarre sights seen in F1 caused a red flag, not that it stopped Lance Stroll from surprisingly finishing fastest
F1’s return to China after a five-year absence was disrupted by a bizarre grass fire during the practice session at the Shanghai International Circuit, forcing a red flag. Alpine driver Esteban Ocon first reported the fire on the inside of Turn 7, which was quickly tackled by fire marshals. The incident resulted in a delay but crucial time was lost for teams, as this weekend was set to be a sprint event. Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll set the pace in practice, followed closely by McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in third. The session provided a challenge for all teams, especially with the new ground-effect cars and different Pirelli tires on the circuit. The practice session saw various strategies, with Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz holding back initially before setting competitive times on the soft tires. Max Verstappen eventually topped the timesheets once the red flags were lifted, showcasing his pace ahead of the upcoming sprint event.
