Summary

  • Verstappen on pole, Perez 2nd, Alonso 3rd, Hamilton 18th

  • Hamilton out in first session

  • Sainz through to shootout despite crash during second session

  • Verstappen wins sprint race ahead of Hamilton

  • Hamilton led after overtaking polesitter Norris off line

  • Get involved #bbcf1

Live Reporting

Gary Rose

  1. Lewis Hamilton crosses the line in second place for his best finish in any race so far this season.

  2. chequered flag

    Chequered flag

    Max Verstappen wins the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix!

  3. Get Involved

    #bbcf1

    Jack: Lets paint all the other tracks, if its gonna kick off like that.

    Andrew Priestley: Great wheel-to-wheel racing between Perez, Leclerc, Sainz and Alonso for P3-P6. All four drivers risking it all in the Sprint Race with Qualifying still to come in 3 hours time.

  4. Fernando Alonso's retirement means George Russell is up into the top eight as we begin the final lap.

  5. Sergio Perez is, however, almost four seconds behind Lewis Hamilton, so second is there for the taking for the Mercedes.

    Sadly, Fernando Alonso has had to retire after picking up that puncture.

  6. Team radio - Aston Martin to Alonso

    "Retire the car."

  7. Race control notes the incident between Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso, when their tyres touched and it appeared to result in Alonso getting a puncture.

  8. So now Max Verstappen leads ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who now has another Red Bull to think about with Sergio Perez in third.

  9. Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

    That really all kicked off quickly didn't it!

  10. Oh no! Fernando Alonso has a puncture as he battled with all he could to fend off those faster cars and he is dropping down the order!

  11. Fantastic battling between Carlos Sainz and Fernando Alonso!

    Tyres touch as Sainz gets past Alonso down into Turn 7, Alonso is not giving up and fights back but Sergio Perez takes advantage of the battling pair by getting past them both! The Red Bull is into third.

  12. The battle for third is heating up with Fernando Alonso hanging onto the position for now, but he has Carlos Sainz, Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc waiting for him to make any sort of mistake.

  13. Team radio - Perez

    "I don't have any traction."

  14. Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

    The grip level just looks so low, everyone is just tiptoeing around this track, I do think that's played into Lewis Hamilton, Fernando Alonso's game plan a little bit. They are so good these two, they've got great feel and great touch and I think that is helping them in this quest for the podium today.

  15. The gap between Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton is now up to six seconds. Bar any issues, the win is in the bag for Verstappen. It is all about what will happen behind him now.

  16. Get Involved

    #bbcf1

    Jeremiah Kariuki: The Red Bull of Verstappen when working well is a machine and the other cars are like toys trying to race with it.

  17. Fernando Alonso keeps looking into his wing mirror. He can sense a couple of faster cars are getting closer, with Carlos Sainz 0.6s behind and Sergio Perez a second back.

  18. Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

    If Lewis and Fernando can finish on the podium today I think it would be a brilliant achievement from both of them considering they are holding back faster cars behind.

  19. George Russell's tyre gamble appears to have paid off as he is getting closer and closer to Oscar Piastri and with it a place in the top eight. There's currently 1.6 seconds between them.

  20. Here's the top five as things stand:

    1) Verstappen

    2) Hamilton

    3) Alonso

    4) Sainz

    5) Perez