China – Free Practice 2: The F1 cars stop and the session is cancelled!
The second free practice session of the Chinese Grand Prix was cancelled due to unsafe weather conditions, depriving the drivers of an important early-season run to understand the behavior of their new single-seaters.
After a first free practice session heavily disrupted by rain, which saw the symbolic best time from Max Verstappen’s Red Bull, the race management simply decided to cancel the second session this morning.
The medical helicopter not being able to take off and land under normal conditions due to unpredictable weather and thick fog, the session has been canceled and no further track action is planned for the rest of the day.
The drivers had indeed prepared to take to the track, and a majority of them were already helmeted and behind the wheel of their single-seaters. But after an initial announcement of a delay to the start of the session, and given the rain and surrounding fog, many understood that it would be pointless to wait in their cockpit.
The image of the day will remain that of Lewis Hamilton meeting fans at the foot of the stands, handing out signed goodies here and there to thank the spectators for attending a session that ultimately did not take place.
