How Chinese Grand Prix sprint qualifying unfolded

1. Norris takes sprint race pole, Hamilton 2nd, Alonso 3rd
2. Drivers struggle on slippery track
3. Russell out in second session; Albon out in first session with Alpines
4. Delays caused by small track fires
5. Sprint race on Saturday before qualifying for Sunday's grand prix
6. Stroll topped practice
7. Chinese Grand Prix returns for first time since 2019
8. Get involved #bbcf1

Crash!

Charles Leclerc is off the track and into the barrier! He spun off and touched the wall but hasn't done enough damage to have to stop and he is able to get back on the track and will try to keep going.

It does look slippery out there, however.

Final qualifying starts

Off we go with the final part of qualifying to see who will secure pole position for tomorrow's sprint race.

The circuit is pretty damp now as cars once again queue up to get out early.

IN

1) Verstappen

2) Leclerc

3) Perez

4) Piastri

5) Norris

6) Sainz

7) Bottas

8) Alonso

9) Hamilton

10) Zhou

OUT

11) Russell

12) Magnussen

13) Hulkenberg

14) Ricciardo

15) Stroll

Second qualifying ends

Max Verstappen finishes fastest in the second part of sprint qualifying.

A huge roar around the circuit and that's because Zhou Guanyu is going to go through, with those in the elimination zone realising they are not going to improve because the circuit is too wet.

Amazing noise.

George Russell abandons his flying lap and it looks like he is going to be eliminated in SQ2!

The rain is coming down a bit heavier now with two minutes of the session remaining.

Daniel Ricciardo, 14th, decides he's had enough and won't improve so pits.

George Russell is once again struggling and he's going to need to get another lap in as he is 11th and in the elimination zone.

Five minutes to go as times come tumbling in. Charles Leclerc is briefly quickest before Max Verstappen then tops the order with 1:35.606.

Second qualifying starts

The lights are green and the drivers are tip-toeing out for 10 minutes of the second part of qualifying.

Team radio

Kevin Magnussen's race engineer: "There's some light sprinkling around but nothing serious for five to 10 minutes."

There's some drops of rain on the camera as it provides a wide angle shot of the circuit.

The drivers are queuing up ready to go with the session getting under way in two minutes.

Zhou Guanyu just snuck into the second part of qualifying, much to the delight of this sizeable crowd.

The start of the second part of qualifying is going to be slightly delayed as that small grassfire is dealt with.

IN

1) Perez

2) Norris

3) Verstappen

4) Leclerc

5) Piastri

6) Sainz

7) Alonso

8) Hulkenberg

9) Stroll

10) Magnussen

11) Bottas

12) Hamilton

13) Russell

14) Ricciardo

15) Zhou

Marshals are once again rushing to put that fire out as sparks from passing cars, coupled with the wind, appear to have caused that area of dry grass to catch light again.

Grass on fire again

Earlier in practice, I saw grass on fire for the first time in an F1 race weekend and it has happened again!

OUT

16) Gasly

17) Ocon

18) Albon

19) Tsunoda

20) Sargeant