Such is Lewis Hamilton’s pace around the Shanghai International circuit that even Ferrari and Red Bull’s switch to the ultras was not enough to depose him from the top of the timesheet.

Although rain was forecast for Friday’s opening practice, it was instead the wind that caused havoc for the drivers at the Shanghai International circuit.

Ferrari: Very wind and dusty out there.

Sebastian Vettel: I can feel it, especially braking for Turn 6.

And with that he lost the back end through that Turn 6.

Turns 1, 6, 11 and the final corner proved problematic in the blustering wind with several drivers – including Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen, Stoffel Vandoorne (twice), Bottas, Charles Leclerc – caught out despite numerous warnings from their respective pit walls.

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