In the first practice session, Qin Miao and Hamilton started complaining about the track conditions on their first lap.
The track was too dirty, and the organizers hadn't properly cleaned the surface. The racing line was covered with dust, pebbles, grass, and other debris.
The cars were noticeably sliding on the rear wheels while driving on it, even after the tires were heated up.
This condition persisted throughout both the first and second practice sessions.
However, as the practice sessions progressed into the later parts of the second session, the track conditions indeed improved, and all drivers posted faster times than in their first practice.
At the Rodriguez Brothers Circuit, which isn't particularly favorable for Mercedes cars, Qin Miao and Hamilton surprisingly took the top two spots during the practice sessions.
The time gap between Qin Miao and Hamilton was minimal, only 0.131 seconds.
