Practice 1 Report - Silver Back

The Silver Arrows of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were back out front in China after being defeated by Ferrari in Malaysia. The Mercedes duo comfortably outpaced the Ferrari teammates of Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen.

The ambient temperature at the start of the 90-minute session was 57 degrees Fahrenheit (14 degrees Centigrade) and the track temperature was 84 degrees Fahrenheit (29 degrees Centigrade.)

The line-up for the weekend was: Mercedes - Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Red Bull Renault - Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat. Williams Mercedes - Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas. Ferrari - Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen. McLaren Honda - Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button. Force India Mercedes - Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez. Toro Rosso Renault - Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz. Lotus Mercedes - Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado. Marussia Ferrari - Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi. Sauber - Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr.

In FP1, however, Jolyon Palmer drove Romain Grosjean's Lotus.

Roberto Merhi was the first out on the 3.387-mile (5.451-km) 16-turn track in his Manor Marussia.

The drivers used Pirelli's medium compound tires with the white sidewalls during FP1.

13 minutes into the session, Rosberg clocked the first lap time: 1:41.052, and he lowered that to a 1:40.412.

19 minutes into the session, Palmer went off the track and continued at Turn 9.

25 minutes into the session, everybody was on track except Stevens and Rosberg.

27 minutes into the session, Hamilton was quickest in sectors 1 and 2 but then pitted at the end of that lap after going off the track at Turn 14.

At the 30 minute mark the top 6 were: Rosberg, Maldonado, Vettel, Raikkonen, Sainz and Bottas.

Not that many drivers were anxious to get back out there, and 40 minutes into the session, only Rosberg and Stevens were on track as Rosberg lowered his time to a 1:39.574.

Midway through FP1 the top six were still: Rosberg, Maldonado, Vettel, Raikkonen, Sainz and Bottas. Alonso, Massa, Verstappen and Nasr rounded out the top 10.

With 40 minutes remaining in the session, Hamilton topped the times with a 1:39.033.

At the one hour mark the top 10 were: Hamilton, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Sainz, Kvyat, Maldonado, Vettel, Verstappen, Button and Bottas.

With 25 minutes remaining in the session, Vettel moved into third place with a time of 1:40.554. Red Bull's Ricciardo and Kvyat were now fifth and sixth.

Nasr was doing well, and he moved up to take fifth place away from Ricciardo with a time of 1:41.012.

With 10 minutes remaining in the session, Hamilton had a quick off at Turn 2.

With 7 minutes remaining in the session, only Sainz and Vettel were not out on track.

With 6 minutes remaining in the session, Massa spun at Turn 14. But he would later move into 10th place.

The top 10 at the end of FP1 were: Hamilton, Rosberg, Vettel, Raikkonen, Nasr, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Sainz, Bottas and Massa.