FORMULA ONE - F1: Hamilton Sets Pace In Practice 1

Formula 1

F1: Hamilton Sets Pace In Practice 1

Mclaren's Lewis Hamilton set the early pace on Friday morning in practice for the Chinese Grand Prix, as Mercedes engines finished 1-2-3-4.

SPEED Staff | Posted April 16, 2009 Shanghai (CHN)

Hamilton had an encouraging opening session (LAT)

Mclaren's Lewis Hamilton set the early pace on Friday morning in practice for the Chinese Grand Prix, as Mercedes-engined cars finished the session 1-2-3-4.

Just a day after long-time F1 team principal Ron Dennis stepped aside from his role with the race team, and with Mclaren running an interim diffuser in light of the International Court of Appeal's ruling on Tuesday, Hamilton set a time of 1:37.334, to beat Brawn duo Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello into second and third.

Hamilton's teammate Heikki Kovalainen was fourth, ahead of Red Bull's Mark Webber and Toyota's Jarno Trulli, whose day was interrupted midway through the session when he slowed to a crawl on the circuit, complaining of electrical problems. His was the only major incident in a relatively trouble-free session.

1 Lewis Hamilton (Mclaren Mercedes) 1:37.334
2 Jenson Button (Brawn Mercedes) +0.116
3 Rubens Barrichello (Brawn Mercedes) +0.232
4 Heikki Kovalainen (Mclaren Mercedes) +0.338
5 Mark Webber (Red Bull Renault) +0.418
6 Jarno Trulli (Toyota) +0.430
7 Nico Rosberg (Williams Toyota) +0.526
8 Timo Glock (Toyota) +0.560
9 Fernando Alonso (Renault) +0.755
10 Sebastien Bourdais (Toro Rosso Ferrari) +0.861
11 Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) +0.900
12 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Renault) +0.940
13 Adrian Sutil (Force India Mercedes) +0.985
14 Felipe Massa (Ferrari) +1.084
15 Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber) +1.112
16 Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India Mercedes) +1.126
17 Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber) +1.129
18 Kazuki Nakajima (Williams Toyota) +1.396
19 Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso Ferrari) +1.434
20 Nelson Piquet (Renault) +1.647

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