Free Practice 1 – Räikkönen ahead of Alonso by a whisker
In the Middle Kingdom, it's Kimi Räikkönen on Ferrari who reigns supreme. The Finn edged out Fernando Alonso by just 0.080 seconds. Usually, Free Practice 1 favors one team, often Ferrari, but here both main teams seem to be on equal footing.
Felipe Massa is 3rd ahead of Lewis Hamilton, last of the quartet who is nevertheless only 186 thousandths behind.
The weather was calm this morning, despite some clouds, but with good temperatures (30° in the air and 40° on the track). Nico Rosberg, who is one of the few to have used the softest tires (namely the mediums), set the 5th fastest time. He is ahead of Kubica.
Trulli and Fisichella, 7th and 8th respectively, are only 9 thousandths apart, while Nakajima in the second Williams – who will do the Friday sessions until Brazil – sets the 9th fastest time.
The second BMW, Heidfeld, experienced a mechanical problem that caused white smoke to appear on the 10th lap and recorded the 10th fastest time but was only able to run at the beginning and end of the session, having to repair his car in between.
There have been few incidents, but more instances of going off the track. Notably for Räikkönen and Massa. Schumacher also went off but without any serious issues.
The continuation in a few moments…
