Summary

  • Norris takes sprint race pole, Hamilton 2nd, Alonso 3rd

  • Drivers struggle on slippery track

  • Russell out in second session; Albon out in first session with Alpines

  • Delays caused by small track fires

  • Sprint race on Saturday before qualifying for Sunday's grand prix

  • Stroll topped practice

  • Chinese Grand Prix returns for first time since 2019

  • Get involved #bbcf1

  1. Crash!published at 09:14 British Summer Time 19 April 2024

    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.

  2. Final qualifying startspublished at 09:12 British Summer Time 19 April 2024

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

  3. Postpublished at 09:10 British Summer Time 19 April 2024

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

  4. INpublished at 09:07 British Summer Time 19 April 2024

    1) Verstappen

    2) Leclerc

    3) Perez

    4) Piastri

    5) Norris

    6) Sainz

    7) Bottas

    8) Alonso

    9) Hamilton

    10) Zhou

  5. OUTpublished at 09:06 British Summer Time 19 April 2024

    11) Russell

    12) Magnussen

    13) Hulkenberg

    14) Ricciardo

    15) Stroll

  6. Second qualifying endspublished at 09:06 British Summer Time 19 April 2024

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

  7. Postpublished at 09:04 British Summer Time 19 April 2024

    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.

  8. Postpublished at 09:03 British Summer Time 19 April 2024

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

  9. Postpublished at 09:02 British Summer Time 19 April 2024

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

  10. Postpublished at 09:01 British Summer Time 19 April 2024

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

  11. Postpublished at 09:01 British Summer Time 19 April 2024

    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.

  12. Postpublished at 09:00 British Summer Time 19 April 2024

    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.

  13. Second qualifying startspublished at 08:55 British Summer Time 19 April 2024

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

  14. Team radiopublished at 08:54 British Summer Time 19 April 2024

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

  15. Postpublished at 08:52 British Summer Time 19 April 2024

    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.

  16. Postpublished at 08:51 British Summer Time 19 April 2024

    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.

  17. INpublished at 08:48 British Summer Time 19 April 2024

    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

  18. Postpublished at 08:47 British Summer Time 19 April 2024

    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.

  19. Grass on fire againpublished at 08:45 British Summer Time 19 April 2024

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

  20. OUTpublished at 08:44 British Summer Time 19 April 2024

    16) Gasly

    17) Ocon

    18) Albon

    19) Tsunoda

    20) Sargeant