Russell rules China practise but there’s hope for Piastri
By Aaron Kirby
Just four days after claiming a one-two victory around the streets of Melbourne, Mercedes have set the pace once again in China on Friday.
But there is good news for Australian Oscar Piastri and his McLaren team after a bitterly disappointing Australian Grand Prix that saw the hometown hero crash before even making it to the grid.
Formula One’s new era of cars is still finding its feet with multiple teams working through teething issues as the second round of the season got underway in Shanghai.
The field’s sole rookie, Arvid Lindblad, was an early casualty as smoke poured out of his cockpit after pulling up at the hairpin at the end of the back straight.