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Chinese GP: Ferrari goes 1-2 in busy practice session

Shanghai -  Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen set the two quickest lap times in practice at the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday, as the rain and fog finally cleared to allow the drivers on the track during a busy pre-qualifying session.

Vettel's time of 1 minute, 33.336 was just a second slower than the lap record at the track, set by Michael Schumacher in 2004. It was also more than two seconds faster than last year's quickest qualifying time in Shanghai, set by the now-retired Nico Rosberg.

Ferrari and Mercedes in a different league

Vettel just barely edged his teammate, Raikkonen, who set a time of 1:33.389. The fast practice laps provide further evidence that Ferrari's pace is much improved this year, allowing the scarlet cars to compete with the long-dominant Mercedes team.

Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas was nearly 0.4 seconds off the pace, posting a lap time of 1:33.707. His teammate, Lewis Hamilton, went wide on a hairpin turn on his final flying lap, ending up with the fourth-fastest time of the session at 1:33.879.

The gulf between the top two teams and the rest of the field was significant. Williams' Felipe Massa was nearly 0.9 seconds behind Hamilton in fifth place, followed by the Red Bull cars of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo.

Williams' Lance Stroll, Renault's Jolyon Palmer and Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz rounded out the top 10 in the final practice session.

Chinese GP Third Practice - As it happened 

The teams didn't waste any time in the hour-long session after Friday's practice runs were nearly completed wiped out due to poor visibility from rain, fog and smog. All the drivers made quick exits from the garage to allow ample time to test their full array of tires before qualifying later in the day.

The poor visibility on Friday (March 7) grounded the circuit's medical helicopter, limiting practice to about 20 minutes in the morning. Many drivers failed to set a lap time, including Hamilton, Vettel and Raikkonen.

The dreary start to the Chinese GP prompted speculation the schedule might be adjusted to allow more practice time or move the race ahead a day to avoid the rain forecast for Sunday. The FIA, however, ruled out any change.

Chinese Grand Prix third and final free practice times on Saturday:

1. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari 1:33.336 
2. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari 1:33.389
3. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Mercedes 1:33.707 
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes 1:33.879 
5. Felipe Massa (BRA) Williams 1:34.773
6. Max Verstappen (NED) Red Bull 1:34.946 
7. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Red Bull 1:35.09
8. Lance Stroll (CAN) Williams 1:35.182
9. Jolyon Palmer (GBR) Renault 1:35.192
10. Carlos Sainz (ESP) Toro Rosso 1:35.223
11. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Renault 1:35.449
12. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) Haas 1:35.521
13. Sergio Perez (MEX) Force India 1:35.626
14. Romain Grosjean (FRA) Haas 1:35.680
15. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) Toro Rosso 1:35.804
16. Esteban Ocon (FRA) Force India 1:35.811
17. Fernando Alonso (ESP) McLaren 1:35.912
18. Marcus Ericsson (SWE) Sauber 1:36.063
19. Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL) McLaren 1:36.221
20. Antonio Giovinazzi (ITA) Sauber 1:36.704

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