Chinese Grand Prix - Lewis Hamilton on pole

Summary

Hamilton on pole, Vettel 2nd by 1,000th of a second from Bottas
Mercedes and Ferrari swapping top times
Giovinazzi crashes heavily, Verstappen out in Q1 with problem
Get involved #bbcf1

Live Reporting

Still got itpublished at 07:35 British Summer Time 8 April 2017
Image source, Getty Images
The whole retiring and unretiring malarkey has worked out pretty well for Felipe Massa. Williams look like they have a competitive car and Massa showed he's still got it by going fifth fastest in final practice, behind only the Mercedes and Ferraris.
Williams could be one to watch in qualifying.
History on Hamilton's sidepublished at 07:33 British Summer Time 8 April 2017
On paper, Lewis Hamilton is the king of qualifying in Shanghai, having taken pole five times over the years. Behind him? Have a guess...
Most China GP pole positions
1. Lewis Hamilton (5)
2. Sebastian Vettel (3)
3. Fernando Alonso (2)
4. Nico Rosberg (2)
5. Rubens Barrichello (1)
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 07:29 British Summer Time 8 April 2017
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
Driver head protection is still on schedule to be introduced in 2018. Regular readers may remember a story we did on this website over the winter revealing that governing body the FIA was working on two alternative forms of device in addition to the halo. One of those - dubbed the ‘shield’ - was demonstrated to the drivers in their regular Friday evening briefing in Shanghai.
Image source, Getty Images
It’s effectively a slightly tweaked version of the ‘aeroscreen’ trialled by Red Bull last year but with a more gentle, longer slope. It did not meet with great approval. Both Kevin Magnussen and Daniil Kvyat pointed out the general problems with visibility of such a device if it got wet or dirty, and some drivers would prefer not to have any additional protection at all. Despite that, the additional frontal protection is in the rules for 2018 and the only serviceable solution at the moment remains the controversial ‘halo’.
Get involved #bbcf1published at 07:27 British Summer Time 8 April 2017
Fred has posted his qualifying top three on Twitter via #bbcf1, external and he clearly thinks Mercedes have plenty more in hand with Sebastian Vettel down in third.
Image source, .
Synchronised scooteringpublished at 07:22 British Summer Time 8 April 2017
Image source, Getty Images
I wonder if they still have these nifty little scooters at the circuit?
Postpublished at 07:21 British Summer Time 8 April 2017
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Could we see the lap record beaten today? Michael Schumacher is the current holder, having set it way back in 2004 with a 1:32.238.
Sebastian Vettel's time in final practice was just 1.1 seconds off it.
Postpublished at 07:19 British Summer Time 8 April 2017
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
One hour of qualifying gets under way at 08:00 BST and teams are going through their preparations now.
Commentary will be on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra from 07:55.
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Get involved #bbcf1published at 07:18 British Summer Time 8 April 2017
John McEnerney: Hamilton, Vettel & Kimi. This is the beginning of a cracking rivalry between Lewis & Ferrari. Wheel to wheel racing all season long!
Postpublished at 07:17 British Summer Time 8 April 2017
Image source, .
This is BBC Radio 5 live pitlane reporter Tom Clarkson top-three prediction from earlier this week.
Agree? Make your prediction here.
The show must go onpublished at 07:13 British Summer Time 8 April 2017
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer
There was no repeat in final practice of the damp weather on Friday that had prevented any meaningful running because the medical helicopter could not operate.
However, further rain is predicted overnight ahead of the race on Sunday.
Even if it remains damp and cloudy at the time of the race, governing body the FIA has taken action to avoid the problems of Friday, when three hours of practice sessions were reduced to only about 15 minutes of running.
If the medical helicopter cannot fly, organisers have arranged for a police escort so, in the event of a driver being hospitalised, he can be transported quickly by road to the main hospital which is more than 30km away.
Image source, .
Postpublished at 07:12 British Summer Time 8 April 2017
Mercedes are absolutely the team to beat in qualifying.
They've been on pole in 57 of the last 60 races and are going for their sixth in a row at the Shanghai International Circuit.
Lewis Hamilton is going for his sixth consecutive pole position and will be the man to beat.
Image source, Getty Images
Who will master qualifying?published at 07:08 British Summer Time 8 April 2017
Image source, Getty Images
How do you see the top three shaping up in qualifying?
Make your predictions here and share them on #bbcf1, external
Postpublished at 07:06 British Summer Time 8 April 2017
Hello! Welcome along to our coverage of qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix.
Thanks to smog, the only practice session we've had in Shanghai was one hour's worth a couple of hours ago, in which Sebastian Vettel finished fastest ahead of team-mate Kimi Raikkonen.
Mercedes usually run with more fuel on board during practice, but it nevertheless was impressive stuff by Ferrari and strengthens the view that they will be there or thereabouts in the title fight.
Image source, EPA
Ferrari out in front?published at 07:00 British Summer Time 8 April 2017
Image source, Getty Images
Back in 2004, Shanghai hosted its first Chinese Grand Prix. The team on pole for that race? Ferrari.
They never managed to repeat that feat since but today might just be the day they do...
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 06:08 British Summer Time 8 April 2017
That sets things up nicely for a big battle for pole. I'm going to take a breather but will be back at 07:00 BST for build-up to qualifying, which starts at 08:00.
What will the top three look like? Make your predictions here.
Postpublished at 06:06 British Summer Time 8 April 2017
Hugely encouraging stuff for Renault with Jolyon Palmer and Nico Hulkenberg ninth and 11th respectively.
The same cannot be said for Red Bull. It doesn't look like they are going to have anything to trouble Ferrari or Mercedes anytime soon.
FP3 resultpublished at 06:03 British Summer Time 8 April 2017
1) Vettel 2) Raikkonen 3) Bottas 4) Hamilton 5) Massa 6) Verstappen 7) Ricciardo 8) Stroll 9) Palmer 10) Sainz
11) Hulkenberg 12) Magnussen 13) Perez 14) Grosjean 15) Kvyat 16) Ocon 17) Alonso 18) Ericsson 19) Vandoorne 20) Giovinazzi
Chequered flagpublished at 06:01 British Summer Time 8 April 2017
Sebastian Vettel finishes quickest in final practice for the Chinese Grand Prix.
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 05:59 British Summer Time 8 April 2017
There's half a second separating the top four but behind them the gap is much bigger. Felipe Massa is 1.4 seconds down on Lewis Hamilton.
Postpublished at 05:58 British Summer Time 8 April 2017
Mistake at the hairpin by Lewis Hamilton! He's goes into it too deep and that costs him as he crosses the line 1:33.879/
Fourth quickest for the Briton, with Valtteri Bottas having gone P3 moments earlier after a 1:33.707, three tenths slower than Ferrari.
That Ferrari pace is looking the real deal, folks.
Image source, Getty Images