Michael Schumacher fastest in practice for Chinese Grand Prix

Michael Schumacher rolled back the years in his rejuvenated Mercedes yesterday, clocking the fastest time in practice in Shanghai.

MOTORSPORT: Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher rolled back the years in his rejuvenated Mercedes yesterday, clocking the fastest time in practice for the Chinese Grand Prix.

After months of frustration, the decorated German set the pace at a damp and cool Shanghai International Circuit.

Schumacher roared around the 5.45km track in 1min 35.973sec, in search of his first pole position and race victory since coming out of retirement in 2010.

Briton's Lewis Hamilton, who topped the time charts in the first practice session, was second to the German, 0.172sec adrift in his McLaren.

Schumacher refused to get carried away, calling it merely a "trouble-free day".

"As a team, we are a lot stronger in certain areas this season, and we have a much better base to work from, although we are not quite where we want to be with this car. But I am confident we will get there," he said.

"We will now have to look deeper into the data in order to find out where we really are here."

Hamilton, who incurred a five-place penalty on the grid for a change of gearbox, said he was relishing having to fight his way up the field. "I always like the challenge of trying to come through (the pack) but it's incredible at the start of the race," he said.

"Trying to gain positions while staying out of trouble is always key, but I am looking forward to qualifying tomorrow and hope we can be as high as possible so then the penalty is not too bad. I think we'll still be in the race."

Sebastian Vettel, the two-time reigning world champion, was third quickest, followed by team-mate Mark Webber.

Webber, who was nearly half a second slower than Schumacher, was anticipating a tight race and said he was happy with his Red Bull, which is not enjoying the superiority of previous years.

"Overall, we are going in the right way and the whole team is working together and we have a good group," he said. "It's very close at the front."

Fellow Australian Daniel Ricciardo was 12th-fastest in his Toro Rosso. Nico Rosberg, Schumacher's Mercedes teammate, was fifth-fastest, followed by McLaren's Jenson Button.

Ferrari's championship leader Fernando Alonso, victorious in Malaysia, was in 10th with a relatively lacklustre 1:37.316.

There will be another practice session and qualifying today with the race to start tomorrow at 5pm AEST.

AFP