Live text
Formula 1
Chinese GP
2014 Chinese Grand Prix Friday - Practice
Live AppleTV Race Audio
Live Standings
presented by
Stopped
Summary
Live Text
Sort by
That was only a brief quiet spell, as Ricciardo and Kvyat emerge.
Grosjean pits, so we have an empty track with 20 minutes to go.
EDD STRAW: "The TV footage from this track gives everyone a long, hard look at the DRS when it is open. The side of the DRS flap opening has increased this year from 50mm to 65mm.
"The reason for this is that the regs cut downforce levels and therefore the size of the gap needed to get a similar level of drag reduction to what we saw in 2013 needed to be increased."
"The reason for this is that the regs cut downforce levels and therefore the size of the gap needed to get a similar level of drag reduction to what we saw in 2013 needed to be increased."
Just Grosjean on the track now, as Ericsson comes into the pits. The Caterham driver had been steadily chipping away at his times.
Quote
BEN ANDERSON: "In terms of drivers who have impressed this year, it's worth mentioning Ricciardo. McLaren's Jenson Button - the most experienced driver on the current grid - said Red Bull's new Australian signing had impressed him most so far in 2014."
"It's not the most competitive car at the moment, a lot of it is on the straights, but he's done a good job," said Button.
"It's always more difficult for a four-time world champion in that situation when the car's not strong. It's a lot easier for a guy who's come up to race alongside a four-time world champion.
"He's excited, his aim is to beat that guy, and for Sebastian I'm sure it's frustrating that he just can't get near a win.
"I'm sure there are different mindsets in the team but Daniel has been aggressive and strong in the races. He's done a good job."
"It's not the most competitive car at the moment, a lot of it is on the straights, but he's done a good job," said Button.
"It's always more difficult for a four-time world champion in that situation when the car's not strong. It's a lot easier for a guy who's come up to race alongside a four-time world champion.
"He's excited, his aim is to beat that guy, and for Sebastian I'm sure it's frustrating that he just can't get near a win.
"I'm sure there are different mindsets in the team but Daniel has been aggressive and strong in the races. He's done a good job."
Here's the order heading into the final half hour:
1 Alonso 1m39.783s
2 Ricciardo +0.989s
3 Rosberg +1.057s
4 Button +1.187s
5 Hulkenberg +1.392s
6 Magnussen +1.583s
7 Vergne +1.722s
8 Hamilton +1.777s
9 Vettel +1.846s
10 Massa +2.193s
11 Kvyat +2.194s
12 Grosjean +2.307s
13 van der Garde +2.832s
14 Perez +2.950s
15 Maldonado +3.948s
16 Nasr +4.116s
17 Kobayashi +4.255s
18 Ericsson +5.290s
19 Chilton +5.352s
20 Gutierrez +5.797s
No time: Bianchi, Raikkonen
1 Alonso 1m39.783s
2 Ricciardo +0.989s
3 Rosberg +1.057s
4 Button +1.187s
5 Hulkenberg +1.392s
6 Magnussen +1.583s
7 Vergne +1.722s
8 Hamilton +1.777s
9 Vettel +1.846s
10 Massa +2.193s
11 Kvyat +2.194s
12 Grosjean +2.307s
13 van der Garde +2.832s
14 Perez +2.950s
15 Maldonado +3.948s
16 Nasr +4.116s
17 Kobayashi +4.255s
18 Ericsson +5.290s
19 Chilton +5.352s
20 Gutierrez +5.797s
No time: Bianchi, Raikkonen
Just under half an hour to go, headlines so far:
* Alonso leads ahead of Ricciardo and Rosberg.
* Air and track temperatures are 15 and 16 degrees Celsius respectively.
* Raikkonen and Bianchi have yet to set a time due to mechanical issues.
* Alonso leads ahead of Ricciardo and Rosberg.
* Air and track temperatures are 15 and 16 degrees Celsius respectively.
* Raikkonen and Bianchi have yet to set a time due to mechanical issues.
EDD STRAW: "As always, it has been interesting to watch the progress of the rookie drivers this year. Magnussen grabbed the headlines with a fine second place (after Ricciardo was excluded) on debut in Australia and he has made a big impact.
"But Daniil Kvyat has also been very impressive. He had a spin a few minutes ago and was fortunate to get his Toro Rosso out of the gravel, but with points in his first two races, plus an 11th place last time out in Bahrain, he has done a fine job so far. He's certainly delighted the team with his approach and performances, which is remarkable for a driver who won't be 20 until later this month."
"But Daniil Kvyat has also been very impressive. He had a spin a few minutes ago and was fortunate to get his Toro Rosso out of the gravel, but with points in his first two races, plus an 11th place last time out in Bahrain, he has done a fine job so far. He's certainly delighted the team with his approach and performances, which is remarkable for a driver who won't be 20 until later this month."
Alonso stayed out and went quicker than before in the middle sector, but his 1m39.783s still stands as the best time of the morning.
A wall of mechanics shield Raikkonen's car as they go about fixing his mechanical issue. The Finn has yet to post a time this morning.
Magnussen also makes progress in the other McLaren, going sixth quickest, 1.7s off the pace and 0.6s slower than Button.
But Button immediately loses a place as Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull shoots up to second, 0.989s down on Alonso.
Button is the next to improve, bringing his McLaren from eighth to third.
Stopwatch
Alonso and Ferrari take over on top with a 1m39.783s, which is 1.057s faster than Rosberg's previous best.
Vettel pops up in fifth place for Red Bull.
Vettel is also on a better lap. He's currently 12th.
Alonso sets the best first sector time so far - does the Ferrari have a shot at toppling Rosberg?
Vergne brings Toro Rosso up to third quickest with a 1m41.505s, 0.7s off pacesetter Rosberg.
A spin for Kvyat at Turn 12. The Russian manages to keep the engine going and resumes running.
Gutierrez is being belted into the cockpit of his Sauber and looks ready to join FP1.
The Frenchman is still the only driver on the circuit. His team-mate Maldonado managed a proper run after that bizarre early spin and is 15th.
Grosjean's lap is an improvement, a 1m42.090s taking him from 12th to seventh.
EDD STRAW: "It will be interesting to see how Lotus gets on this weekend. In Malaysia, it seemed that it had turned a corner by at least getting the cars running reliably enough to get some serious work done. But in Bahrain, things were much harder with poor pace during the race weekend and serious problems during the two-day test that followed. The car looked horrible to drive as well."
After a pause with no cars on track, Grosjean's Lotus comes back out.
EDD STRAW: "Current fastest time is Rosberg's 1m40.840s. By comparison, the quickest lap in FP1 here last year was a 1m36.717s, also set by Rosberg. The gap will be smaller by the end of the session, provided track conditions allow it."
Raikkonen heads out of the Ferrari garage and embarks upon his installation lap.
EDD STRAW: "It's not going to be a warm weekend in China. Various forecasts predict rain, either today or tomorrow. Even if it stays dry, track temperatures are going to be pretty low throughout."
So, with 30 minutes gone, everyone has had their first set of medium-compound Pirellis. With Bianchi, Raikkonen and Gutierrez all yet to post times thanks to problems, here's how the timesheets look:
1 Rosberg, 1m40.840s
2 Alonso +0.464s
3 Hamilton, +0.720s
4 Hulkenberg, +1.025s
5 Massa, +1.136s
6 Button, +1.199s
7 Ricciardo, +1.425s
8 Magnussen, +1.855s
9 Vettel, +2.418s
10 Vergne, +2.429s
11 Perez, +2.805s
12 Grosjean, +2.841s
13 Nasr, +3.059s
14 Van der Garde, +3.063s
15 Maldonado, +3.162s
16 Kobayashi, +4.471s
17 Kvyat, +4.819s
18 Chilton, +5.415s
19 Ericsson, +6.829s
1 Rosberg, 1m40.840s
2 Alonso +0.464s
3 Hamilton, +0.720s
4 Hulkenberg, +1.025s
5 Massa, +1.136s
6 Button, +1.199s
7 Ricciardo, +1.425s
8 Magnussen, +1.855s
9 Vettel, +2.418s
10 Vergne, +2.429s
11 Perez, +2.805s
12 Grosjean, +2.841s
13 Nasr, +3.059s
14 Van der Garde, +3.063s
15 Maldonado, +3.162s
16 Kobayashi, +4.471s
17 Kvyat, +4.819s
18 Chilton, +5.415s
19 Ericsson, +6.829s
Half an hour in, the main developments are:
* Rosberg heads the timesheets ahead of Alonso and Hamilton.
* Lots of drivers are struggling on the brakes in cool temperatures.
* Air temperature is a chilly 15 degrees Celsius, while track temp is 18.
* Mechanical issues for Raikkonen, Bianchi and Gutierrez mean they have yet to join the action.
* Rosberg heads the timesheets ahead of Alonso and Hamilton.
* Lots of drivers are struggling on the brakes in cool temperatures.
* Air temperature is a chilly 15 degrees Celsius, while track temp is 18.
* Mechanical issues for Raikkonen, Bianchi and Gutierrez mean they have yet to join the action.
There are a couple of reserve drivers out in this session. Giedo van der Garde is out in Sutil's Suber, with Nasr in the Bottas Williams.
Stopwatch
And sure enough, Rosberg posts a 1m40.840s, making him the first driver to get under the 1m41 mark.
Kvyat's car is fired up and the Russian is poised to join this morning's action.
So far, 13 drivers have registered times, with Rosberg looking set to improve his best mark imminently.
Stopwatch
And Rosberg goes top, with a 1m41.063s as more drivers lodge their first times. Alonso is now second, 0.372s down.
Stopwatch
Button knocks team-mate Magnussen off top spot, logging a 1m42.482s.
Incoming rain? Rosberg radios in to say his visor has a few spots of water on it.
Speaking of Williams, Bottas will be sitting out this session while reserve driver Felipe Nasr has a run. The GP2 driver has completed an installation run, as has Massa.
EDD STRAW: "Remember that new-for-2014 regulations allow an extra use of whichever harder-compound (prime) tyre for use only in the first 30 minutes of FP1. So, assuming it stays dry (no foregone conclusion given that we are seeing a few spots of rain), you'll see drivers using one set of medium Pirellis in the first 30 minutes, then a second set of mediums for the final hour."
Quote
BEN ANDERSON: Williams has brought some upgrades to China and will spend today evaluating the new parts.
Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa are hopeful they will alleviate the rear grip issues they've been suffering so far in 2014.
Massa said: "Maybe it will be a tough race, but it’s also a track where you use the front tyres a bit more and maybe this can be a help for our car.
"We have some new parts and I hope we can see better grip at the rear.
"We have a long straight that’s not bad for us, but we need the downforce as well. We’ll see how it’s going to be."
The weather forecast suggests there will be rain over the weekend, which has proved difficult for the Williams so far this season.
"We have some new bits to try here and hopefully that will lift up performance in the wet also," added Bottas.
"We’ll try those on Friday and if they work normally that should help us in the wet."
Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa are hopeful they will alleviate the rear grip issues they've been suffering so far in 2014.
Massa said: "Maybe it will be a tough race, but it’s also a track where you use the front tyres a bit more and maybe this can be a help for our car.
"We have some new parts and I hope we can see better grip at the rear.
"We have a long straight that’s not bad for us, but we need the downforce as well. We’ll see how it’s going to be."
The weather forecast suggests there will be rain over the weekend, which has proved difficult for the Williams so far this season.
"We have some new bits to try here and hopefully that will lift up performance in the wet also," added Bottas.
"We’ll try those on Friday and if they work normally that should help us in the wet."
A couple of mechanical problems developing already this morning - a clutch issue is likely to mean a 40-minute delay for Esteban Gutierrez, says Sauber, and Marussia's Jules Bianchi encountered a fuel system problem on his installation lap so is now out of the car.
By: Matt Beer, Dan Cross, Ben Anderson, Edd Straw, Glenn Freeman, Pablo Elizalde
Published:
Lap:
