Ferrari’s driver Kimi Raikkonen was dominant throughout the two free practice sessions which took place Friday, prior to the Chinese Grand Prix scheduled for Sunday.

Raikkonen was the fastest driver on the track twice, leaving McLaren-Mercedes’s Fernando Alonso into second place and his Ferrari teammate Felipe Massa with the third fastest time in both practice sessions. Lewis Hamilton, the leader of the drivers’ championship rankings, recorded the fourth-fastest time.

The Englishman, who is very close to wining the F1 drivers’ championship, could face disciplinary sanctions as International Automobile Federation (FIA) officials are investigating a video recorded by a fan. The video shows Hamilton driving erratic behind the safety car and causing an accident between two cars which were just behind him. The incident, which involved Mark Webber's Red Bull and Sebastian Vettel's Toro Rosso, has happened during last Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix and put both drivers out of the race.

Raikkonen completed the 5.400-kilometre lap on the Shanghai track after exactly one minute 36.630 seconds, leaving Alonso just 0.006 seconds behind. Massa was third with 0.017 seconds behind, after he spun off the track twice.

Ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, Hamilton ranks first with 107 points, while McLaren teammate Fernando Alonso has 95. The top four is currently completed by Ferrari’s drivers with Finland’s Kimi Raikkonen ranking third with 90 points and Brazil’s Felipe Massa on fourth with 80.

If Hamilton manages just to finish in front of Alonso, the world title is his. At 22, he would become the youngest driver in Formula One history and also the first rookie to win the championship.

Chinese GP Friday first practice times:

01 K. Raikkonen Ferrari 1:36.607 31 laps
02 F. Alonso McLaren 1:36.613 28 laps
03 F. Massa Ferrari 1:36.630 29 laps
04 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:36.876 33 laps
05 J. Trulli Toyota 1:37.151 36 laps
06 M. Webber Red Bull 1:37.450 34 laps
07 R. Schumacher Toyota 1:37.524 32 laps
08 D. Coulthard Red Bull 1:37.617 27 laps
09 N. Rosberg Williams 1:37.646 36 laps
10 G. Fisichella Renault 1:37.970 32 laps
11 H. Kovalainen Renault 1:38.062 21 laps
12 J. Button Honda 1:38.205 41 laps
13 R. Barrichello Honda 1:38.304 40 laps
14 R. Kubica BMW 1:38.379 39 laps
15 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:38.388 16 laps
16 A. Wurz Williams 1:38.531 32 laps
17 A. Davidson Super Aguri 1:38.975 38 laps
18 V. Liuzzi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:39.062 36 laps
19 A. Sutil Spyker F1 1:39.224 37 laps
20 T. Sato Super Aguri 1:39.360 37 laps
21 S. Vettel Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:39.404 34 laps
22 S. Yamamoto Spyker F1 1:40.051 38 laps