Second practice at the Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix has been abandoned without a wheel being turned, while the opening practice session was also heavily compromised by weather.
While cars would have been able to take to the Shanghai track, the inability of the medical helicopter to land in the city itself due to rain affected both sessions.
A road ambulance would not have been feasible due to the travel time exceeding the FIA's limit of 20 minutes.
Practice 2 was therefore abandoned completely, while Practice 1 saw only 20 minutes of running between two red flags.
Max Verstappen was the fastest of the 14 drivers who managed to set a time, clocking a 1:50.49s on intermediate tyres.
The Dutchman had eclipsed Lance Stroll, who had been the first man to take inters after most drivers started on wet tyres.
Felipe Massa managed to go second-fastest before Nico Hulkenberg spun his Renault at Turn 2, triggering the virtual safety car.
By the time he was removed from the gravel trap, the weather had deteriorated in Shanghai city again and the session did not restart.
Neither Lewis Hamilton nor Australian Grand Prix winner Sebastian Vettel managed to set a time, while Daniel Ricciardo finished eighth.
Tomorrow's Practice 3 from 1400 AEST now shapes as a pivotal session before qualifying at 1700.
Results: Chinese Grand Prix Practice 1
Pos | Driver | Team | Car | Time | Gap | Laps |
1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | Red Bull/Renault | 1:50.491 | 4 | |
2 | Felipe Massa | Williams Martini Racing | Williams/Mercedes | 1:52.086 | 1.595 | 7 |
3 | Lance Stroll | Williams Martini Racing | Williams/Mercedes | 1:52.507 | 2.016 | 7 |
4 | Carlos Sainz Jr. | Scuderia Toro Rosso | Toro Rosso/Renault | 1:52.840 | 2.349 | 5 |
5 | Romain Grosjean | Haas F1 Team | Haas/Ferrari | 1:53.039 | 2.548 | 6 |
6 | Daniil Kvyat | Scuderia Toro Rosso | Toro Rosso/Renault | 1:53.314 | 2.823 | 4 |
7 | Fernando Alonso | McLaren Honda | McLaren/Honda | 1:53.520 | 3.029 | 5 |
8 | Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull Racing | Red Bull/Renault | 1:54.038 | 3.547 | 7 |
9 | Valtteri Bottas | Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport | Mercedes | 1:54.664 | 4.173 | 4 |
10 | Kevin Magnussen | Haas F1 Team | Haas/Ferrari | 1:55.104 | 4.613 | 8 |
11 | Nico Hulkenberg | Renault Sport F1 Team | Renault | 1:55.608 | 5.117 | 6 |
12 | Stoffel Vandoorne | McLaren Honda | McLaren/Honda | 1:57.445 | 6.954 | 4 |
13 | Marcus Ericsson | Sauber F1 Team | Sauber/Ferrari | 2:15.138 | 24.647 | 4 |
14 | Antonio Giovinazzi | Sauber F1 Team | Sauber/Ferrari | 2:15.281 | 24.790 | 4 |
15 | Jolyon Palmer | Renault Sport F1 Team | Renault | 3 | ||
16 | Sebastian Vettel | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari | 2 | ||
17 | Kimi Raikkonen | Scuderia Ferrari | Ferrari | 1 | ||
18 | Esteban Ocon | Sahara Force India F1 Team | Force India/Mercedes | 2 | ||
19 | Sergio Perez | Sahara Force India F1 Team | Force India/Mercedes | 3 | ||
20 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport | Mercedes | 2 |