Reigning world champion Jenson Button threw down an early marker in first practice for the Chinese Grand Prix - although there was a frightening moment in Shanghai as Sebastien Buemi crashed out.
The Swiss driver caused the session to be temporarily halted with 15 minutes left after both front wheels on his Toro Rosso came off as he braked at the end of the long back straight, sending Buemi crashing in to the barriers.
Buemi was left unharmed by the accident - although he was clearly shaken.
Despite the disruption, Button finished top of the timesheets on one minute 36.677 seconds - with the McLaren driver staying just ahead of Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg. SkySport
The young German prevented McLaren from dominating the session as he edged out Lewis Hamilton and once again got the better of his team-mate Michael Schumacher, with the seven-time world champion fourth fastest.
Malaysian Grand Prix winner Sebastian Vettel was fifth in his Red Bull with the Renault duo of Robert Kubica and Vitaly Petrov sixth and seventh respectively.
Red Bull’s Mark Webber was eighth while Force India’s Adrian Sutil and current drivers’ championship leader Felipe Massa of Ferrari completed the top 10.
The Brazilian’s team-mate Fernando Alonso, who was forced to retire from ninth in Malaysia due to an engine problem, had seen his practice session come to an end with 40 minutes remaining after the Spaniard came to a halt near turn six with flames emanating from the exhaust of his F10. The Press Association
Jaime Alguersuari was 11th in the second Toro Rosso with 1m 38.161s, ahead of the BMW Saubers of Kamui Kobayashi and Pedro de la Rosa (1m 38.375s and 1m 38.421s respectively), then Nico Hulkenberg in the leading Williams (1m 38.569s), Paul di Resta (1m 38.618s standing in again for Tonio Liuzzi in the second Force India), Rubens Barrichello (1m 38.678s) and Buemi (1m 38.939s), who was unhurt in his crash.
Then there was another big gap back to the Lotuses, as they led the Virgins. Jarno Trulli took his T127 round in 1m 41.531s ahead of team mate Heikki Kovalainen on 1m 41.779s, then Timo Glock managed 1m 41.830s in the lead Virgin before its front front wing collapsed. Lucas di Grassi was 21st in the sister car on 1m 42.181s. Behind the Brazilian came fellow countryman Bruno Senna in the lead HRT on 1m 43.875s, with team mate Karun Chandhok next on 1m 43.949s. Formula 1
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Jenson Button Fastest in First Practice at Shanghai
Formula 1: Chinese Grand Prix - First Practice Results
Lewis Hamilton Fastest in Second Practice at Shanghai
Formula 1: Chinese Grand Prix - Second Practice Results
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