• 33 world champions in the sport's history. The 33rd driver to be crowned the winner of a full F1 season was Nico Rosberg in 2016. Getty
    33 world champions in the sport's history. The 33rd driver to be crowned the winner of a full F1 season was Nico Rosberg in 2016. Getty
  • 34 teams have won in F1 since the first race at Silverstone in 1950. Mercedes-GP have been the most recent victors, winning the past four events, including the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 31. Getty
    34 teams have won in F1 since the first race at Silverstone in 1950. Mercedes-GP have been the most recent victors, winning the past four events, including the Bahrain Grand Prix on March 31. Getty
  • 71 Tracks have hosted a grand prix, including Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, which hosted its first race in November 2009. Getty
    71 Tracks have hosted a grand prix, including Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, which hosted its first race in November 2009. Getty
  • 91 victories by Michael Schumacher, pictured, between August 1992 and September 2006, the most by any driver. Lewis Hamilton is the next up on 74. Getty
    91 victories by Michael Schumacher, pictured, between August 1992 and September 2006, the most by any driver. Lewis Hamilton is the next up on 74. Getty
  • 107 drivers have stood on the top step of the podium at a grand prix. Valtteri Bottas, pictured, was the 107th driver to win in F1 when he prevailed for Mercedes in Russia in 2017. Getty
    107 drivers have stood on the top step of the podium at a grand prix. Valtteri Bottas, pictured, was the 107th driver to win in F1 when he prevailed for Mercedes in Russia in 2017. Getty
  • 163 British drivers have raced in F1, making it the country to have had the most participants in the sport. Hamilton, pictured, Lando Norris and George Russell are the current racers on the grid representing Great Britain. Getty
    163 British drivers have raced in F1, making it the country to have had the most participants in the sport. Hamilton, pictured, Lando Norris and George Russell are the current racers on the grid representing Great Britain. Getty
  • 235 victories for Ferrari, making them the most successful team in the sport. Kimi Raikkonen's, pictured, success at the United States Grand Prix in October was their most recent victory. Getty
    235 victories for Ferrari, making them the most successful team in the sport. Kimi Raikkonen's, pictured, success at the United States Grand Prix in October was their most recent victory. Getty
  • 323 races that Brazilian driver Rubens Barrichello, pictured, entered in F1 between 1993 and 2011, making him the driver with the most F1 appearances in the sport's past. Fernando Alonso, Schumacher and Jenson Batton are the only other racers to have competed more then 300 times. Getty
    323 races that Brazilian driver Rubens Barrichello, pictured, entered in F1 between 1993 and 2011, making him the driver with the most F1 appearances in the sport's past. Fernando Alonso, Schumacher and Jenson Batton are the only other racers to have competed more then 300 times. Getty
  • 764 drivers have raced in F1. The newest three competitors were Norris, pictured, Russell and Alexander Albon who all debuted in March in Australia, the 998th grand prix. Getty
    764 drivers have raced in F1. The newest three competitors were Norris, pictured, Russell and Alexander Albon who all debuted in March in Australia, the 998th grand prix. Getty
  • 974 races that Ferrari have been involved in, the most of any team in the series. China will be their 975th as Charles Leclerc, pictured, and Sebastian Vettel race for the Italian marque in Shanghai. Getty
    974 races that Ferrari have been involved in, the most of any team in the series. China will be their 975th as Charles Leclerc, pictured, and Sebastian Vettel race for the Italian marque in Shanghai. Getty

F1

Valtteri Bottas fastest in Chinese GP practice as Ferrari's Charles Leclerc hits more trouble

Sebastian Vettel shows strong pace as he looks to win for the first time since August

Graham Caygill

April 24, 2019

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Championship leader Valtteri Bottas edged out Sebastian Vettel to be fastest in Friday's second practice session for Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix.

The Finn set a fastest time of 1 minute, 33.330 seconds in Shanghai in his Mercedes-GP.

Vettel, who had been quickest in first practice, was just 0.027 seconds off the pace in his Ferrari.

Max Verstappen's Red Bull Racing car was third ahead of the second Mercedes of world champion Lewis Hamilton.

There were mechanical issues for Charles Leclerc though. The Ferrari driver, who missed out on a first career win in Bahrain two weeks ago due to engine problems, was sidelined for much of the afternoon as his team checked on cooling issues.

Leclerc was only seventh, 0.8 seconds off the pace of Bottas.

Qualifying takes place at 10am UAE time on Saturday, with the race beginning at 10.10am on Sunday.

F1