BBC weather guru Ian Fergusson has the forecast for the weekend. There is some rain expected today but likely to be a dry weekend.

Friday the 13th, what could possibly go wrong, asks Max Verstappen.

Your spelling for starters, Max. #ChinesGP

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Michael Heal: Lewis potentially feeling threatened by Max following the fallout from Bahrain? Feels similar to when Schumacher and Senna came on the scene

Fernando Alonso now crosses the line to set a time, clocking 1:38.765 on softs. That's seven seconds off last year's time for pole position so plenty more time to come yet.

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

Keen followers of F1 may have noticed Pierre Gasly’s radio message to his Toro Rosso team after crossing the line in fourth place at the Bahrain Grand Prix, the team’s second race with Honda engines. “Now we can go racing,” he said, a not-so-oblique reference to a similar line used by Fernando Alonso after he finished fifth in Melbourne, in his first race since McLaren swapped Honda engines for Renault. Gasly said he had received some derogatory messages on social media from Spanish fans, which were “tough” and “quite crazy”. But he said he was not so much having a pop at Alonso as wanting to praise Honda.

“It was just a little joke – that is it,” the Frenchman said. “I just I think we need to give credit back to Honda. In the end, they had a really tough three years with McLaren and to finish fourth in our second race with them was just amazing. I have huge respect for Fernando. Fernando is one of the best drivers in all time in F1, one of my idols.”

Image source, Getty Images

I bet Pierre Gasly couldn't wait to get back into the car after his superb fourth in Bahrain last-time out. He, like 17 other drivers, has been out for an installation lap.

The only two drivers who haven't been out yet are Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen.

Lance Stroll gets the session up and running with a 1:42.648, setting that time on the soft tyres.

He's the only driver to complete a flyer so far.

Image source, Getty Images

"Radio check," says Lewis Hamilton, hoping for better communication after struggling with his radio last weekend.

"ZDfdffsdkpn..,. loud and clear," comes the reply with hefty amount of digital feedback.

Didn't sound loud and clear to me.

It was an absolute thriller in Bahrain last-time out but, and maybe this is just me, I often struggle to think of a memorable Chinese Grand Prix. However, when I had a glance on social media a little earlier there seemed to be plenty of people really up for this one.

So what's your view? Is this one of the least attractive races, or is it the one you always put a big circle around on the calendar as one you are looking forward to?

Let us know via #bbcf1 or text in on 81111 (UK only)

Very busy start to the session with 15 drivers going out for installation laps.

Image source, .

I thought it looked ridiculous but maybe the new haircut is working for Sebastian Vettel.

Making for better aerodynamics?

First practice is under way with Marcus Ericsson leading several drivers out onto the track.

Jolyon Palmer
Former Renault driver on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

The wind is always crucial in Formula 1. When you get a strong wind it disrupts the aerodynamics. This circuit is also really wide open, the wind is up and that will cause problems for drivers.

Flags are fluttering around the circuit. The win is pretty strong on a dull, overcast day in Shanghai.

Two minutes to go until practice gets under way.

Live audio commentary is available right now on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and online.

Commentator Alex Jacques is joined by Jolyon Palmer in the commentary box.

Image source, .

One of the big moments of the last weekend's race was Ferrari mechanic Francesco Cigorini suffering a broken leg when he was run over by Kimi Raikkonen during a pit stop.

It was a really horrible moment but it's good to see Cigorini is in good spirits as he recovers in hospital.

Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer

One of the sub-texts of this season is who is going to get the second Mercedes seat in 2019. Will Valtteri Bottas keep it for a third season? If so, he is going to have to perform strongly in the first half of the season. Or will it go to Daniel Ricciardo or Esteban Ocon? Is that the context in which should be viewed comments from Ricciardo about what was perceived in some quarters as Bottas’ rather lame attempt to wrest the lead from Sebastian Vettel on the last lap in Bahrain?

"Well, I would have tried to win, definitely,” said Ricciardo, the acknowledged master of the throw-down-the-inside-from-a-long-way-back-and-hope-it-comes-off manoeuvre. “I was watching and like: 'Make a move! Go, go, go, go!' Obviously the fans want to see it as well, but he didn’t. Maybe in Valtteri's head he thought 'I'll get him in Turn Four' but for me the first opportunity you have to take. If you locked up and went wide, you're still finishing second. I don't want to tell him all my tips, but I wouldn't be content. If it's for a win, you just can't [settle]. It's not in me, at least.”

Easy to say, of course, but to be fair to Ricciardo he puts his money where his mouth is on this on a regular basis and it usually pays off.

Sebastian Vettel may have two wins so far this season, but you can't help but feel he could well have lost the Bahrain Grand Prix if Valtteri Bottas had been a bit braver with his attempt at an overtake on the penultimate lap.

This weekend marks Bottas' 100th race in F1, will he mark the landmark with a win?

It's cloudy with a chance of rain in China today. Dry at the moment with first practice due to get under way in just under 15 minutes.

BBC Radio 5 live

The BBC Radio 5 live F1 podcast is available to listen to and download now. Jennie Gow is joined by former Formula 1 driver Jolyon Palmer to look ahead to the Chinese Grand Prix.

You'll hear from Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel, who leads the championship by 17 points and has been defending rival Lewis Hamilton following criticism from some sections of the media.

We also ask if there is growing tension between McLaren team-mates Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne, and explore whether Mercedes can continue their domination at the Shanghai International Circuit.

Get the podcast here.