Valtteri Bottas ended up 7th in Friday's second free practice as the Williams driver worked diligently towards optimising the FW37's race set-up.

The Finn enjoyed a promising run on the medium compound tyres, producing in the process a string of steady and fast lap times, but was also happy with the modifications implemented on the car for this weekend's race.

"It definitely felt more consistent than in Malaysia," commented Bottas. "And what was really positive today is that all the updates we brought here worked as expected, although we can gain a bit more speed in the corners. We also tried a new front wing which was a bit better than the old one."

Although the team's overall performance was steady on Friday, with the exception of a rear brake issue which affected Felipe Massa, Bottas remains focused on keeping tyre wear in check as a fair amount of graining has crept its way into the mix.

"Yes, there was quite a bit of graining, especially on the left front, and it's more difficult when the track is getting better. I'm sure we're not the only ones with the problem, and we can probably tweek a few things on the car to help us for the race as well as apply a few driving tricks. I think we can be strong in qualifying because we still have plenty of speed for tomorrow, but whatever we do with car's set-up, it'll be all about the race."

Click here for Friday's gallery from the Chinese Grand Prix 

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.

Recent Posts

Why F1’s Azerbaijan GP will take place on Saturday

Formula 1 will swap its familiar Sunday slot for a Saturday finish in Baku this…

3 hours ago

Cardile promises Aston Martin a ‘completely new car’ for 2027

Aston Martin’s miserable 2026 campaign may yet prove valuable if the lessons learned from its…

4 hours ago

Formula 1's mighty titans from 1986

In this famous photo, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, and Nelson Piquet pose ahead…

6 hours ago

Doohan back in the F1 saddle with Haas amid 2027 speculation

Jack Doohan was back in the cockpit of a Formula 1 car last weekend, hitting…

7 hours ago

Szafnauer warns Cadillac its F1 structure is ‘suboptimal’

Former Aston Martin and Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer has delivered a blunt assessment of…

7 hours ago

Vettel: Sustainable F1 can bring back the sport’s old-school thrills

Sebastian Vettel remains a passionate and deeply informed observer of Formula 1 – and the…

9 hours ago