Australian Oscar Piastri set the second-fastest time in the sole practice session for the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix, with Aston Martin's Lance Stroll first on the timesheets.
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Stroll set the fastest lap of 1 minute, 36.302 seconds at the Shanghai International Circuit on Friday, 0.327 quicker than McLaren driver Piastri.
Red Bull's triple world champion Max Verstappen and team mate Sergio Perez were third and fourth.
In an eventful practice session for Sunday's race, which returns to the schedule after a five-year absence, drivers had to wait out a brief early stoppage due to a small fire next to the track, which led to a red flag.
The Ferrari duo of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz were 13th and 14th.
Lewis Hamilton, the winner of the last grand prix in Shanghai, was shown a black and white flag after locking up and running off the track and across the pit entry line.
Hamilton and Mercedes team mate George Russell used only hard tyres throughout the session, with the pair finishing 17th and 18th.
Shanghai-born Zhou Guanyu, China's first and only Formula One driver, was 11th, one spot behind Sauber team mate Valtteri Bottas.
With Shanghai hosting the first sprint race of the season, only one hour of free practice was allotted on Friday. Sprint qualifying was scheduled to take place later in the day.
The race has not been held since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The track has seen little use since and could be bumpier than before.
Some drivers have voiced concerns over the decision to have a 100km Saturday sprint in China when there are so many unknowns.
World champion Verstappen will be hoping to clinch his first-ever win in Shanghai in Sunday's race and extend his lead in the driver's standings.
Australian Associated Press
