Chinese Grand Prix 2016: Fernando Alonso cleared for race but technical issues dominate first practice

Both Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen suffered trouble with their wheels, though Pirelli claim they were not due to tyre failures or punctures

(2016 Getty Images)

McLaren's Fernando Alonso has been given the green light to take part in the Chinese Grand Prix following his latest check-up in Shanghai.

Alonso, who missed the last race in Bahrain after sustaining fractured ribs in his huge shunt at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, was requested to report to the FIA medical team after opening practice.

And following a brief examination, Formula One's governing body saw no reason to stop the Spaniard, who posted the 12th quickest time in Friday's opening practice, from competing in the remaining sessions at the third round of the championship.

A statement from the FIA read: "As a result of a medical examination undertaken following Free Practice One, the FIA F1 Medical Delegate, Prof. Jean-Charles Piette, and the Chief Medical Officer of the Chinese Grand Prix, Prof. Shiyi Chen, have ruled that Fernando Alonso is fit to take part in all remaining sessions this weekend.

"However, as with this morning's session, in case of any abnormal symptoms the driver has been informed that he must stop his car immediately.

"As the driver has been cleared to take part, no further medical checks will be undertaken unless the driver presents any abnormal symptom."


 Alonso finished the session in 12th 
 (2016 Getty Images)

Speaking on Thursday, Alonso said: "I feel good. Obviously Bahrain, I was mentally 100 per cent ready to race, but physically I had a lot of pain. In Bahrain I was ready to try and see if the pain was manageable with the broken rib.

"Now, the situation has improved a lot. I am mentally 120 per cent now, but physically 100 per cent with no pain in the last couple of days.

"I have been training more or less my normal routine in the past two weeks. I slept okay for the past two weeks which was quite a good thing because in the first 10 days after Australia I could only sleep on one side and that was not very comfortable."

Alonso was replaced in Bahrain by Stoffel Vandoorne, McLaren's reserve driver, who out-qualified Jenson Button before scoring the team's first point of the season after he crossed the line in 10th.


 Massa suffered two technical failures during first practice 
 (2016 Getty Images)

Nico Rosberg finished fastest in an opening practice session for Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix which was overshadowed by three separate tyre failures.

Felipe Massa encountered two problems with the rear left of his Williams, while the Renault of Kevin Magnussen also suffered the same issue.

Pirelli, Formula One's sole tyre manufacturer, insisted that Massa's problem was not a puncture, rather an issue with his car, while an investigation into Magnussen's blow-out is ongoing.


 Magnussen also suffered a rear suspension failure 
 (2016 Getty Images)

The early suggestions are that the Dane's tyre failure, which occurred on the back straight of the Shanghai International Circuit where the cars approach speeds of up to 200mph, was caused by on-track debris.

"The investigation of both failures on Williams during FP1 show no sign of puncture, but air loss connected to technical trouble," Pirelli said.


 Rosberg continued his domination to the start of the 2016 season 
 (2016 Getty Images)

Marshals, armed with brooms, cleared the circuit following two red flags, and in the final seven minutes when the session restarted Williams decided not to send out either Massa or his team-mate Valtteri Bottas as they continued to investigate the issue on the Brazilian's car.

Magnussen also watched the conclusion of the session from the back of the Renault garage.

When the action did resume, Rosberg was 0.146 seconds faster than Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton, but the championship leader suffered his own problems after an engine-related issue saw him cruise back to the pits.


 Hamilton knows he will serve a five-place grid penalty 
 (2016 Getty Images)

Hamilton, who will be demoted five places on the grid for Sunday's race following a gearbox change, did not enjoy a trouble-free session either after he spun at turn 11 on two occasions. The triple world champion was second fastest with Sebastian Vettel third for Ferrari, albeit more than half-a-second slower than Rosberg.

Daniel Ricciardo was fourth for Red Bull with Kimi Raikkonen fifth in the sister Ferrari and Daniil Kvyat sixth.

Final times after First Practice:

1 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes GP 1min 38.037secs

2 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:38.183

3 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:38.665

4 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull 1:39.061

5 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:39.155

6 Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Red Bull 1:39.625

7 Carlos Sainz (Spa) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:39.676

8 Jenson Button (Gbr) McLaren 1:39.974

9 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Force India 1:40.169

10 Max Verstappen (Ned) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:40.232

11 Sergio Perez (Mex) Force India 1:40.347

12 Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren 1:40.538

13 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Williams 1:40.828

14 Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 1:41.358

15 Marcus Ericsson (Swe) Sauber-Ferrari 1:41.393

16 Rio Haryanto (Sin) Manor Racing 1:41.614

17 Jolyon Palmer (Gbr) Renault 1:41.816

18 Pascal Wehrlein (Ger) Manor Racing 1:42.908

19 Felipe Nasr (Bra) Sauber-Ferrari 1:42.980

20 Kevin Magnussen (Den) Renault no time

21 Esteban Gutierrez (Mex) Haas F1 no time

22 Felipe Massa (Bra) Williams no time

PA