Defending Macau GP winner Felix Rosenqvist ( Theodore Racing Dallara Mercedes) has laid down a sensational first session lap at the 6.12km Guia circuit ahead of Callum Ilott (Van Amersfoort Dallara Mercedes) and Japanese F3 champion Kenta Yamashita (Three Bond with T-Sport Dallara Tomei)

Rosenqvist set a benchmark 2min13.099 second run  on the last of eight laps of a track still bedding from Illot ,2.13.511 and Yamashita 2.13.547.

The Swedish driver’s confident time in slippery conditions has led his Prema team manager  Rene Rosin to forecast the track lap record of 2min10.186secs could be under threat by this afternoon’s first qualifying session.

A heavy crash by Austrian Ferdinand Habsurg ( Fortec Dallara Mercedes) in his first ever drive at the track brought out a red flag mid session before practice resumed.

Japanese driver Tadasuke Makino ( Toda Racing) also hit one of the forbidding Macau walls at Lisboa corner at the end of the long main straight, causing double yellow corner flags.

British driver Lando Norris ( Carlin Dallara Volkswagen) was the fastest of 16 debutant entrants , claiming fifth outright on 2min 13.948secs,, just 0.849secs behind Rosenqvist.

Carlin team mate Jake Hughes , also a circuit first timer ,was sixth quickest on 2min 14.158.

First qualifying for the FIA F3 World Cup begins at 2.20pm, Macao time.

Full classification