Shanghai, 16 April

Friday practice usually follows a set pattern of evaluating the two types of tyre available, working on adapting the set-up of the F10 to suit the circuit and general race preparation. However, today there were additional bullet points on the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro worksheet, given that the team had brought new aerodynamic components to evaluate, most significant of which a new rear wing. Getting through the work became slightly more complicated when, having completed just 6 laps in the morning, the engine on Fernando Alonso’s car failed. It was the unit that had already given cause for concern and was changed after qualifying in the opening race in Bahrain and as the Spaniard himself pointed out, “ we knew it could fail sooner or later and it happened today.” The key point is that in terms of how the eight engines available per driver per season are managed, there is no significant change to Alonso’s programme. Apart from the new aero package for this weekend, adding to the workload was an evaluation of parts that are planned for use in the mid-term future.



The drivers’ positions on the time sheet? Not that it means much today, but Fernando Alonso was tenth fastest, with his team-mate right behind him in eleventh spot. McLaren were the main players with Jenson Button topping the time sheet in the morning, before ending up third in the second session, with Lewis Hamilton fastest in the afternoon. Second was the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg, with his fellow countryman and team-mate, Michael Schumacher fourth. The Red Bull pairing of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber are fifth and sixth respectively. The closer it gets to race day, the more accurate is the time sheet in assessing performance: the last free practice hour tomorrow will be the final dress rehearsal for the all important afternoon qualifying session to decide the grid for Sunday’s race.