Shanghai Practice 2: Massa fastest as Ferrari show good pace

Felipe Massa ended the opening day of the Chinese Grand Prix weekend fastest of all with teammate Fernando Alonso third quickest, splitting the Ferrari pair was Kimi Raikkonen in the Lotus.

Massa, who has never won in China, continued to show a reversal of form by topping the timing screens in the afternoon session at Shanghai International Circuit with a time of 1:35.340, which was 0.152 seconds up on Raikkonen and 0.415 on his Ferrari teammate.

The Shanghai track rubbered-up in between sessions and as a result Massa’s best time was about 1.5 seconds up on the morning session best set by Nico Rosberg. The Mercedes driver was fourth in the afternoon session.

Mark Webber was fastest of the Red Bull duo, ending the session fifth, with Sebastian Vettel down in tenth over half second down on his teammate.

Jenson Button was sixth fastest, suggesting that the Woking based squad have uncovered some pace in the McLaren MP4-28. Sergio Perez, who had a minor excursion in the morning, was 11th.

Lewis Hamilton, who a day earlier was unwell with an allergy of sorts, was seventh at the end of the day in the Mercedes.

Up next were the Force India pair of Adrian Sutil and Paul di Resta, eighth and ninth respectively.

Williams, who last year were the surprise package of the season, are on the opposite end of the spectrum as their FW35 is proving to be a dog of a car, hence both Pastor Maldonado (18th) and Valtteri Bottas (16th) struggled at the wrong end of the timing screens.

Also unexpectedly low down the order was Nico Hulkenberg in the Sauber with the 17th best time, while teammate Esteban Gutierrez was 13th and best of the rookies on the day.

In the battle of the back-markers Jules Bianchi was way ahead of his rivals, with the 19th best time but notably half a second up on the best Caterham.

Free Practice 2 Results, Shanghai – Friday, 12 April 2013