Norris Leads Chinese GP Practice, Ferrari's Leclerc Second

Lando Norris of McLaren topped the time sheets in the only practice session for the Chinese Grand Prix, clocking a lap time of 1:31.504, 0.454 seconds ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri followed in third, while Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes finished fourth despite a challenging session. The practice was interrupted by a red flag when rookie driver Jack Doohan's Alpine lost power, causing a temporary halt. The session marked a significant improvement for Ferrari, who struggled in the previous race in Melbourne, with Leclerc's performance indicating a rebound. However, defending champion Max Verstappen faced difficulties, finishing 16th after aborting his final lap. The Shanghai International Circuit's resurfacing posed challenges for tire performance, particularly in long corners and heavy braking zones.