Postpublished at Lap 1/19
Carlos Sainz has a nibble at Max Verstappen but the world champion defends his position well to hold onto third.
Great start to this sprint race.
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
Postpublished at Lap 1/19
Postpublished at 04:06 British Summer Time 20 April
Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 LiveLando has had an absolutely dreadful first sector, he was trying to hold it round the outside of Lewis but just ran out of grip.
Postpublished at Lap 1/19
Lando Norris has dropped four or five places after that attempt to battle back for first place back fired.
Lewis Hamilton leads from Fernando Alonso, with Max Verstappen hunting from third.
Go! Go! Go!published at 04:05 British Summer Time 20 April
The first sprint race of the season is under way!
Fantastic start by Lewis Hamilton, he swoops into the lead, Lando Norris tries to fight back but runs wide!
Postpublished at 04:03 British Summer Time 20 April
George Russell is the only driver on softs, with everyone else on mediums. Will the Mercedes driver's gamble pay off?
The cars are lining up on the grid and we are almost set to go.
Postpublished at 04:02 British Summer Time 20 April
Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 LiveLando Norris has a very good chance today, of course I still think Max Verstappen is the favourite, but if Norris with the McLaren and with them running a slightly higher downforce package than you will see other teams running because they understand that their car is a little bit draggy and isn't the best in low downforce configurations, but they've made the best of a bad situation, run high downforce which is their strong point.
Postpublished at 04:01 British Summer Time 20 April
It is looking like mediums are the favoured compound, with pole sitter Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton on them.
George Russell, who starts from 11th, has opted to mix things up by going for softs.
Postpublished at 03:59 British Summer Time 20 April
Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 LiveWhat will they do for tyres, we are not entirely sure what compound people will be taking, obviously soon we will find out, but do they take a hard or do they take a medium?
The gridpublished at 03:58 British Summer Time 20 April
Image source, F1.comNo risk of rainpublished at 03:57 British Summer Time 20 April
Ian Fergusson
BBC weather forecasterAir temp is 19.6C & the track at 27.8C. Wind from WNW, with gusts to 27mph in the past hour. Dry & mostly cloudy; no rain in the area and FIA official risk of rain is 0%.
Postpublished at 03:56 British Summer Time 20 April
Hello!
It may be almost 04:00 BST but we have an early morning treat as we get stuck straight into the first sprint race of the season.
The drivers are just about ready to go as they begin what is an unfamiliar Saturday, kicking off with this 19-lap race to the finish before qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix at 08:00 BST.
Commentary is live now via this page and BBC Sounds, so tune in.
The first Sprint of the seasonpublished at 03:55 British Summer Time 20 April
Image source, Getty ImagesThe introduction of sprint races into Formula 1 has proved divisive, but yesterday's qualifying for the first one of the season certainly delivered in the drama and unpredictably stakes.
A mixture of the weather and lack of familiarity on a circuit that returns to the sport for the first time in five years made for an interesting grid, as Lando Norris secured pole position, ahead of Lewis Hamilton.
With Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen just behind them, we could be set for a thriller in this morning's sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix.