P1racenews AI automatic summary:
A fascinating opening practice session at Formula 1’s Chinese Grand Prix featured a red flag for a fire, angst for Lewis Hamilton and an unusual order
The opening practice session at the Chinese Grand Prix for Formula 1 provided little clarity ahead of the season’s first sprint qualifying event. The new 2024 format led to varied strategies as teams adjusted to the new practice-to-qualifying sequence, resulting in an unpredictable pecking order topped by Lance Stroll and Oscar Piastri. Max Verstappen’s presence in third hinted at a more familiar competitive scenario. Despite a partially resurfaced track, drivers adapted quickly, with few incidents barring a brief red flag due to a small fire. Pitlane entries proved tricky, with several drivers overshotting or encountering unexpected situations like Fernando Alonso’s detour and Lewis Hamilton’s missed opportunity to pass Piastri. The session reflected teams’ focus on understanding the track, fine-tuning setups, and managing the limited soft tyre allocation for the sprint weekend. Red Bull, Ferrari, and Mercedes adopted varying tyre strategies, setting the stage for an intriguing qualifying and sprint race ahead.
