Lando Norris topped the timesheets in the sole practice session for the Chinese Grand Prix, as McLaren continued to show impressive pace.
Norris, who won the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, set a blistering lap time of 1:34.398 to finish 0.236 seconds clear of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren driver’s performance was all the more impressive given that he was running on the harder compound tires, while Leclerc was on the softer rubber.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who has been tipped as one of the favorites for the championship, was third fastest, 0.441 seconds off Norris’ pace.
The practice session was the only one scheduled for the weekend, due to the condensed schedule of the Chinese Grand Prix.
McLaren’s strong performance will be a concern for their rivals, as they look to build on their early-season momentum.
The team’s pace has been one of the major talking points of the season so far, and Norris’ performance in practice suggests that they will be a force to be reckoned with in qualifying and the race.
Leclerc’s second-place finish was a positive result for Ferrari, who have been working to improve their car’s performance after a difficult start to the season.
Verstappen’s third-place finish was a solid result for Red Bull, who will be looking to challenge McLaren and Ferrari for the top spots on the podium.
The stage is now set for an exciting qualifying session, as the drivers battle it out for the top grid positions.
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