Hamilton tops practice at Formula One Chinese Grand Prix

SHANGHAI (AP) — Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton topped the leaderboard as expected during both practice sessions at the Chinese Grand Prix on Friday, though Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen managed to stay close to the reigning world champion in the second run.

Hamilton set the fastest time of the day at 1 minute 37.219 seconds, which Mercedes said was 1.2 seconds faster than last year's best practice time at Shanghai International Circuit.

Raikkonen was second in the afternoon session, less than half a second behind Hamilton.

Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo set the third-fastest time, giving his struggling team a boost a day after company owner Dietrich Mateschitz reiterated his threat to pull out of Formula One if he can't field a competitive team.

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel was fourth-fastest and Mercedes' Nico Rosberg fifth.