Lewis Hamilton topped the opening practice session for the Chinese Grand Prix, beating team-mate Nico Rosberg by more than a second.
Key Points from FP1:
– Hamilton’s 1:39.033 was over five tenths quicker than Rosberg.
– The Merceded pair were over a second quicker than Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel in third.
– Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was fourth fastest, half a second down on Vettel.
– Sauber’s Felipe Nasr once again positioned himself within the top five during a practice session.
– Felipe Massa, tenth, enjoyed a spin as he took to the run-off at the hairpin.
– Romain Grosjean was replaced by Jolyon Palmer who finished 15th, half a second down on the second Lotus of Pastor Maldonado.
– McLaren’s Jenson Button beat out team-mate Fernando Alonso in 13th and 17th respectively.
– Manor enjoyed a trouble free session with both cars, completing 38 laps in total.
| # | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
| 01 | L. Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:39.033 | 21 | |
| 02 | N. Rosberg | Mercedes | 1:39.574 | 0.541 | 21 |
| 03 | S. Vettel | Ferrari | 1:40.157 | 1.124 | 18 |
| 04 | K. Raikkonen | Ferrari | 1:40.661 | 1.628 | 27 |
| 05 | F. Nasr | Sauber | 1:41.012 | 1.979 | 18 |
| 06 | D. Ricciardo | Red Bull | 1:41.029 | 1.996 | 21 |
| 07 | D. Kvyat | Red Bull | 1:41.097 | 2.064 | 24 |
| 08 | C. Sainz | Toro Rosso | 1:41.112 | 2.079 | 23 |
| 09 | V. Bottas | Williams | 1:41.303 | 2.270 | 23 |
| 10 | F. Massa | Williams | 1:41.304 | 2.271 | 17 |
| 11 | P. Maldonado | Lotus | 1:41.335 | 2.302 | 23 |
| 12 | M. Verstappen | Toro Rosso | 1:41.575 | 2.542 | 28 |
| 13 | J. Button | McLaren | 1:41.845 | 2.812 | 19 |
| 14 | M. Ericsson | Sauber | 1:41.918 | 2.885 | 24 |
| 15 | J. Palmer | Lotus | 1:41.967 | 2.934 | 25 |
| 16 | S. Perez | Force India | 1:42.141 | 3.108 | 22 |
| 17 | F. Alonso | McLaren | 1:42.161 | 3.128 | 20 |
| 18 | N. Hulkenberg | Force India | 1:42.184 | 3.151 | 19 |
| 19 | W. Stevens | Marussia | 1:45.379 | 6.346 | 18 |
| 20 | R. Merhi | Marussia | 1:46.443 | 7.410 | 20 |
