Hamilton becomes only fourth man to take five or more poles at one track
Brit sits alongside Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, Juan Manuel Fangio
Rosberg 2nd, Vettel 3rd, Massa 4th
Bottas 5th, Raikkonen 6th, Ricciardo 7th
Grosjean 8th, Nasr 9th, Ericsson 10th
Hamilton top in Q2, Rosberg 2nd, Saubers through
Kvyat, Maldonado, Perez, Toro Rossos out in Q2
Both McLarens, Manors & Hulkenberg out in Q1
On Fernando Alonso's woes...
Darren Inc: Damn.... Wonder what he would be like in this year's Ferrari
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Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
Writing before McLaren's FP3 trouble, Andrew Benson had this to say about the team's current situation.
"McLaren have too illustrious a history to get very excited about 10th and 12th fastest times in free practice - especially when the drivers in question are as good as Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso. Nonetheless, this marked another huge step forward for the team this season; they have gone from five seconds off the pace - and 1.5secs slower than any other running car - in Australia to 'just' two in China, just two races later. And the drivers now have realistic hopes of getting into second qualifying.
Image source, AP"'We need to have the feet on the ground,' Alonso said, 'and understand that on Saturday normally the others put some extra power. So I don't think that maybe Q3 is possible but definitely Q2 is the goal for tomorrow and finishing the race maybe close to the points. It was a very positive day so very happy.'
"Button, meanwhile, said the car was 'a pleasure to drive'. And the midfield teams such as Lotus and Sauber are already looking around nervously at McLaren in the expectation that their days in front of their grandee rivals are running out."
Fernando Alonso's team-mate Jenson Button also has problems.
He is informed on the team radio that "the issue is not fixed, so be careful".
Troubling times down at McLaren, who looked OK on Friday with the cars finishing 10th and 12th.
Image source, EPABad start for McLaren-Honda and Fernando Alonso.
The Spaniard's car made it through just two corners before grinding to a halt with an engine problem.
No red flag; covered off with yellows.
Image source, Formula1.comc h o o l w e: Zambia 5am, alarm just went off, coffee at the ready...let's go #FP3
Third practice for the Chinese Grand Prix is under way.
Sepang winner Sebastian Vettel is straight out on track in the Ferrari.
Image source, Toro RossoToro Rosso on Twitter: Car is looking good isn't it Carlos!? Yep, go on, in you get, it's #FP3 time!! 10 mins to green light, ni hao!!
Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton was in a league of his own throughout Friday practice.
He was half a second clear of his closest rival, which was team-mate Nico Rosberg in the first session and Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen in the second.
Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo was third, from Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel and Rosberg.
Lewis Hamilton on Twitter: My amazing fans that came to see me this morning, all wearing my caps!
Image source, Lewis HamiltonAndrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
"Ferrari won in Malaysia thanks largely to their ability to preserve their tyres better than Mercedes, allied to a pace good enough to enable them to translate that into a race-long challenge. And there were hints on Friday that this may become a running theme this season.
"While Lewis Hamilton was on average 0.7secs a lap quicker than Kimi Raikkonen on their soft-tyres race simulation runs, the Ferrari hung on to its tyres better.
"Hamilton was showing significant drop-off after 11 laps; Raikkonen was still going strong after 14. How this will play out on Sunday is a fascinating question."
Image source, Getty ImagesLotus on Twitter: Some people can sleep anywhere... #WellJealous
Image source, LotusWhile we fans are all desperately hoping Mercedes doesn't run and hid in 2015, Ferrari technical boss James Allison admits it is "not realistic" for the team to think about beating the world champions to the title despite Sebastian Vettel's victory in the last race .
The German is three points behind championship leader Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes after two races.
Allison said: "Mercedes have a bit more horsepower and a bit more downforce. Until we have closed those two gaps, it's not realistic to talk about title challenges."
Image source, Getty ImagesAndrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
"This Formula 1 season is giving up its secrets slowly so far, but tantalising they are nonetheless. Lewis Hamilton has upped his game in 2015, it seems, but so too have Ferrari, and Friday in Shanghai hinted that the lessons of Malaysia two weeks ago may have some longevity.
"Meanwhile, Red Bull look back in the game after a couple of bad races, and how long will it be before McLaren-Honda are up there, too?
"Lots to look forward to - both this weekend and over the remaining 16 races."
Image source, AFPHello hello.
It's fair to say this ranks as one hell of a weekend for us sports fans, and what better way to kick it all off than with 20 cars having a good blat around the Shanghai International Circuit.
In a few hours' time we should have a slightly clearer picture as to whether Ferrari's Malaysia win was just a wrinkle in Mercedes's season or a genuine threat to the world champions.
Should be good viewing. Strap in.