McLaren s Norris tops practice for Chinese Grand Prix ahead of Ferrari s Leclerc

SHANGHAI - McLarens Lando Norris topped the time sheet during the only practice session for Sundays Chinese Grand Prix on Friday, with Alpines Jack Doohan bringing the session to a halt for several minutes after the rookie driver lost power midway through a lap.

Norris lapped the Shanghai International Circuit in one minute, 31.504 seconds on soft tyres, 0.454 seconds ahead of Ferraris Charles Leclerc, with several drivers complaining of graining on their front tyres as they made their way around the tracks long and sweeping corners.

McLarens Oscar Piastri was third fastest, just over six tenths of a second slower than his teammate, but running wide on his fastest lap and looking ominous ahead of qualifying later in the day for Saturdays Sprint Race.

Seven-time world champion and six-time Chinese Grand Prix winner Lewis Hamilton finished fourth, ahead of Mercedes George Russell, who had been quickest for much of the session but did not join the top four in changing to the soft compound tyre after Doohans stoppage brought out a red flag.

Saubers Nico Hulkenberg ended the practice one position up on his unexpected points-scoring seventh-place finish in Melbourne last week, just over a second off the pace but continuing a strong run of form for the mid-field team.

Mercedes Kimi Antonelli complained of blistering on his front left tyre and was only able to manage ninth position, just under half a second behind his teammate, Russell.

The Shanghai circuit has been resurfaced ahead of the race, but its long and sweeping first, twelfth and thirteenth corners typically challenge tyres regardless, with the rubber compounds getting dragged across the asphalt as the drivers turn in.

Alpines Jack Doohan stopped the session with just under 13 minutes left on the clock after complaining of a loss of power around