Verstappen posts fastest time in disrupted session

THE opening practice session for the Chinese Grand Prix was heavily disrupted by the bad weather in Shanghai.

Following a deluge of overnight rain, the one-and-a-half-hour session was halted after just four minutes with the medical helicopter unable to land at the designated hospital due to the foggy conditions.

The session re-started with a little more than 40 minutes to go but there was only a smattering of on-track activity with six drivers, including championship protagonists Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel, not bothering to post a competitive lap.

Moments later the red flags were out again, after the local airport was closed due to the worsening conditions, before the session was eventually abandoned five minutes before it was due to end.

During the brief running, Nico Hulkenberg beached his Renault in the gravel at turn two, while there were also spins for the Haas pair of Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen posted the fastest lap in the damp conditions ahead of the Williams duo of Felipe Massa and Lance Stroll.

Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso has ruled out quitting McLaren during this season but believes the door is still open on a mouth-watering move to join Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes in 2018.

McLaren have endured a very disappointing start to the campaign, amid ongoing troubles with their beleaguered engine supplier Honda, and the British team are braced for another difficult weekend.

Alonso failed to finish at the opening race in Melbourne following a mechanical issue, while his team-mate Stoffel Vandoorne crossed the line last.