text: Lewis Hamilton suggested Mercedes will be back in control for this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix. Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel conjured one of the biggest surprises for many a Formula One season with the team's first victory for almost two years at the last race in Malaysia. Many people expected another dominant Mercedes campaign in the wake of last season's crushing success and thoroughly convincing win in the opening race in Australia. Lewis Hamilton was fastest in first practice for this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix . The Mercedes driver, who leads the championship, set the pace as he bids to win his fourth race in China . Hamilton was over half-a-second clear of Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg in opening practice . 1. Lewis Hamilton  Mercedes 1:39.033 . 2. Nico Rosberg  Mercedes 1:39.574 . 3. Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1:40.157 . 4. Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1:40.661 . 5. Felipe Nasr  Sauber - Ferrari 1:41.012 . 6. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull - Renault 1:41.029 . 7. Daniil Kvyat  Red Bull - Renault 1:41.097 . 8. Carlos Sainz Jr Toro Rosso - Renault 1:41.112 . 9. Valtteri Bottas Williams-Mercedes 1:41.303 . 10. Felipe Massa  Williams-Mercedes 1:41.304 . 11. Pastor Maldonado  Lotus - Mercedes 1:41.335 . 12. Max Verstappen  Toro Rosso - Renault 1:41.575 . 13. Jenson Button McLaren 1:41.845 . 14. Marcus Ericsson  Sauber - Ferrari 1:41.918 . 15. Jolyon Palmer Lotus - Mercedes 1:41.967 . 16. Sergio Perez Force India - Mercedes 1:42.141 . 17. Fernando Alonso McLaren 1:42.161 . 18. Nico Hulkenberg  Force India - Mercedes 1:42.184 . 19. Will Stevens Marussia - Ferrari 1:45.379 . 20. Roberto Merhi  Marussia - Ferrari 1:46.443 . Even Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff suggested Ferrari's success was 'a wake-up call' to his organisation. Without doubt Mercedes responded in the first practice session ahead of the latest race at the Shanghai International Circuit, and none more so than reigning champion Hamilton. A three-times winner at this track, including last season, Hamilton finished 0.541secs clear of team-mate Nico Rosberg, with a best lap of one minute 39.033secs. None of their rivals even came close, with Vettel a further half a second adrift at 1:40.157secs, with his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen 1.6secs down on Hamilton. Valtteri Bottas was ninth in his Williams, over two seconds shy of Hamilton's best time . Jenson Button was within three seconds of Hamilton's lap and 13th in the first practice standings . Fresh from winning in Malaysia, Vettel was best of the rest in Shanghai behind the two Mercedes drivers . To underline Mercedes' supremacy and the gap to Raikkonen, from the Finn in fourth to Force India's Nico Hulkenberg in 18th, there was a difference of just 1.5secs. Behind Mercedes and Ferrari, the best of the rest was Felipe Nasr in his Sauber, with the Brazilian rookie 1.979secs off the pace, whilst Daniel Ricciardo finished 1.996secs down for Red Bull. No other driver came within two seconds of Hamilton, with Daniil Kvyat seventh for Red Bull, followed by Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz. The Williams duo of Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa completed the top 10, 2.27secs adrift and split by a mere one thousandth of a second. As for McLaren, Jenson Button was 13th and Fernando Alonso 17th, with the latter 3.128secs behind Hamilton, with even Jolyon Palmer ahead of him on his debut for Lotus. Last year's GP2 champion, serving as reserve with Lotus this season, was 15th and 2.934secs down, with highly-experienced team-mate Pastor Maldonado only 0.6secs ahead. Manor pair Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi both enjoyed plenty of track time, completing 38 laps between them. For young British rookie Stevens his 18 laps were crucial as he had so far failed to take part in either qualifying session or race in Australia and Malaysia. Stevens finished 6.346secs behind Hamilton, with Merhi bringing up the rear another 1.1secs down.
target: Lewis Hamilton over half-a-second clear of team-mate Nico Rosberg .
  Sebastian Vettel was a further second adrift of the Mercedes pair .
  Jenson Button was 13th and Fernando Alonso 17th for McLaren .