Chinese GP: Mercedes fastest just like last year
After winning the pole and race last year, Nico Rosberg led teammate Lewis Hamilton in a Mercedes one-two in opening practice for the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai.
The Red Bull duo Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel were a second off the Mercedes' pace in 3rd and 4th.
Mercedes was not only faster on lighter-fuel runs going into the final half-hour of the session, but also had more pace on full fuel load.
Jenson Button ended up sixth for McLaren, between the Ferraris of Fernando Alonso and Massa.
Results
Pos | Driver | Team/Car | Time | Behind | Laps |
1. | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1m36.717s | +0.000s | 21 |
2. | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1m37.171s | +0.454s | 20 |
3. | Mark Webber | Red Bull-Renault | 1m37.658s | +0.941s | 21 |
4. | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | 1m37.942s | +1.225s | 20 |
5. | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 1m37.965s | +1.248s | 17 |
6. | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | 1m38.069s | +1.352s | 23 |
7. | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1m38.095s | +1.378s | 14 |
8. | Adrian Sutil | Force India-Mercedes | 1m38.125s | +1.408s | 21 |
9. | Romain Grosjean | Lotus-Renault | 1m38.398s | +1.681s | 17 |
10. | Paul di Resta | Force India-Mercedes | 1m38.561s | +1.844s | 15 |
11. | Kimi Raikkonen | Lotus-Renault | 1m38.790s | +2.073s | 16 |
12. | Jean-Eric Vergne | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1m39.057s | +2.340s | 19 |
13. | Pastor Maldonado | Williams-Renault | 1m39.158s | +2.441s | 22 |
14. | Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber-Ferrari | 1m39.180s | +2.463s | 21 |
15. | Daniel Ricciardo | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1m39.336s | +2.619s | 19 |
16. | Sergio Perez | McLaren-Mercedes | 1m39.360s | +2.643s | 20 |
17. | Valtteri Bottas | Williams-Renault | 1m39.392s | +2.675s | 20 |
18. | Esteban Gutierrez | Sauber-Ferrari | 1m40.032s | +3.315s | 22 |
19. | Jules Bianchi | Marussia-Cosworth | 1m41.966s | +5.249s | 16 |
20. | Max Chilton | Marussia-Cosworth | 1m42.056s | +5.339s | 17 |
21. | Giedo van der Garde | Caterham-Renault | 1m42.083s | +5.366s | 21 |
22. | Ma Qing Hua | Caterham-Renault | 1m43.545s | +6.828s | 20 |