F1 China: Michael Schumacher on top at Shanghai

Michael Schumacher set the best time of the first day of practice in China, ahead of Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) who was the fastest this morning.

Hamilton was the fastest during the first, wet free practice session, with the two Mercedes of Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher right behind him.

Three "Friday drivers" were in action this morning. Valtteri Bottas for Williams, Jules Bianchi for Sahara Force India and Giedo van der Garde at the wheel of Caterham.

The track was dry for the second session and Michael Schumacher (Mercedes AMG) emerged fastest ahead of Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull).

Michael Schumacher, Mercedes W03. (Photo: WRi2)

Grand prix of China, Shanghai
Friday, April 13 2012

Results of the first free practice session*

1 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'37"106 - 7 laps
2 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'38"116 - 14
3 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'38"316 - 14
4 - Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'38"584 - 13
5 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'38"911 - 12
6 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'38"977 - 15
7 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'39"198 - 12
8 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'39"199 - 6
9 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'39"748 - 16
10 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'39"768 - 14
11 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1'40"056 - 14
12 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1'40"153 - 14
13 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'40"298 - 8
14 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'40"328 - 13
15 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'40"540 - 12
16 - Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'41"071 - 14
17 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'41"201 - 14
18 - Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'42"330 - 14
19 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'42"521 - 11
20 - Jules Bianchi (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'44"118 - 8
21 - Pedro de la Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'44"227 - 10
22 - Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'44"500 - 15
23 - Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'47"204 - 12
24 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'50"465 - 11

Results of the second free practice session*

1 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'35"973 - 32 laps
2 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'36"145 - 29
3 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'36"160 - 26
4 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB8-Renault) - 1'36"433 - 23
5 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W03) - 1'36"617 - 30
6 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/27-Mercedes) - 1'36"711 - 27
7 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'36"956 - 28
8 - Paul di Resta (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'36"966 - 30
9 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM05-Mercedes) - 1'37"191 - 30
10 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F2012) - 1'37"316 - 32
11 - Sergio Perez (Sauber C31-Ferrari) - 1'37"417 - 22
12 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'37"616 - 33
13 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'37"836 - 30
14 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR7-Ferrari) - 1'37"930 - 31
15 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E20-Renault) - 1'37"972 - 25
16 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'38"176 - 34
17 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F2012) - 1'38"293 - 30
18 - Bruno Senna (Williams FW34-Renault) - 1'38"783 - 37
19 - Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'38"990 - 36
20 - Vitaly Petrov (Caterham CT01-Renault) - 1'39"346 - 19
21 - Timo Glock (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'39"651 - 15
22 - Pedro de la Rosa (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'40"343 - 24
23 - Charles Pic (Marussia MR01-Cosworth) - 1'40"753 - 30
24 - Narain Karthikeyan (HRT F112-Cosworth) - 1'41"125 - 26

*Unofficial timing