The Chinese Grand Prix returns as Max Verstappen starts on pole and Lewis Hamilton takes to the grid in a lowly 18th after his worst qualifying result since 2017.
Hamilton finished second in Saturday’s F1 Sprint – a result he described as his “best in a long time” – but was brought crashing back down to earth when he was eliminated in the opening phase of qualifying for Sunday’s main event. The seven-time world champion locked up at the penultimate corner on his speediest lap, and he finished in the Q1 knockout zone, leaving only RB’s Yuki Tsunoda and Williams’ Logan Sargeant behind him on the grid.
Verstappen, who is on course to take his fourth consecutive world championship, saw off team-mate Sergio Perez, with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso third and Lando Norris fourth – ahead of Oscar Piastri in the other McLaren. Charles Leclerc and Sainz finished sixth and seventh respectively for Ferrari, while George Russell could manage only eighth on a poor afternoon for the Silver Arrows.
Follow live coverage of the Chinese Grand Prix with The Independent
F1 Chinese Grand Prix LIVE: Race updates
Chinese Grand Prix under way as Max Verstappen starts on pole
Verstappen won Saturday’s Sprint Race and then Red Bull celebrated 100th pole
Lewis Hamilton starts in 18th after worst qualifying result since 2017
Virtual Safety Car! Yellow flag after Bottas goes off track at turn 11
Full Safety Car! Many drivers pit as Verstappen loses some of his lead
Full Safety Car! Yellow flag again as Tsunoda spins off in his home race
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 35/56
09:10 , Chris Wilson
Kevin Magnussen also has a 10-second penalty now for causing Tsunoda to spin off earlier. That’s three penalties so far!
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 34/56
09:09 , Chris Wilson
Verstappen is leading by almost two seconds, with Norris in second, Leclerc in third, Perez in fourth and Alonso in fifth.
Ricciardo was complaining about having no grip, and as he pits it’s noted that he only has half a diffuser left.
The Australian is forced to retire.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 33/56
09:08 , Chris Wilson
Ricciardo is struggling here, and he dives into the pits.
Stewards are now looking at both of the earlier incidents involving Magnussen-Tsunoda and Stroll-Ricciardo.
Sargeant will be getting a 10-second penalty for a safety car infringement, and Stroll gets one for causing a collision!
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 32/56
09:06 , Chris Wilson
Hamilton has moved up into 10th place after making a move on Ricciardo during the restart.
It looks like we’re incident-free at the restart, though Hulkenberg and Sargeant are under investigation for something.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 32/56
09:04 , Chris Wilson
Green flag and we’re underway again!
Alonso, on the softs, is really sticking to the back of Perez.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 31/56
09:03 , Chris Wilson
The safety car is about to end coming in to lap 32.
Verstappen is complaining as to why it has lasted so long. His team surmise that it may be debris.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 30/56
09:02 , Chris Wilson
Replays show some real chaos there as Stroll lifted the back of Ricciardo’s car. Stroll blamed the Australian on radio to his team, but there was a lot of late braking in the cars in front of him.
Race control have noted that event, along with the incident between Magnussen and Tsunoda.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 29/56
08:59 , Chris Wilson
Sainz sounds a little nervous about the potential one-stop strategy as we approach lap 30.
Alonso had got in front of his fellow Spaniard during the chaos of the restart.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 27/56
08:57 , Chris Wilson
Elsewhere, another incident is noted as replays show Stroll hit the back of Ricciardo at the first safety car restart. That’s why the former pitted straight away.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 27/56
08:55 , Chris Wilson
There’s another yellow flag almost instantly as Tsunoda is off the track! He spins after being clipped by Magnussen.
Another safety car due to debris on the track.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 27/56
08:53 , Chris Wilson
As the safety car ends, Stroll pits.
No moves at the top of the grid, but Verstappen got a good jump on Norris.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 26/56
08:51 , Chris Wilson
The safety car is ending. Everyone on the hard tyres, other than Alonso, who is on the softs, and Ricciardo, who’s on the hard tyres.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 25/56
08:50 , Chris Wilson
Here’s the top 10 under the safety car.
1) Verstappen
2) Norris
3) Leclerc
4) Perez
5) Sainz
6) Alonso
7) Russell
8) Piastri
9) Ricciardo
10) Stroll
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 25/56
08:49 , Chris Wilson
Piastri has also come into the pits, and he comes out in eighth.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 24/56
08:48 , Chris Wilson
Still under the safety car, and Hamilton is bemoaning the lack of balance in his car.
“It’s sliding everywhere,” he says.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 24/56
08:46 , Chris Wilson
Verstappen comes out in first still, but Perez has lost a few places and comes out in fourth.
Norris and Leclerc in second and third, with Piastri fifth.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 24/56 – Full safety car!
08:45 , Chris Wilson
A full safety car has been called, and Verstappen and Perez are both pitting.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 23/56
08:44 , Chris Wilson
They’re still trying to remove Bottas’ car after the engine failure, and he’s the first retirement of the day.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 23/56
08:43 , Chris Wilson
Now Norris pits too, and he comes out in third.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 22/56
08:42 , Chris Wilson
Leclerc pits under the VSC, as do Hamilton and Stroll.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 21/56
08:41 , Chris Wilson
Sainz tries to overtaker Stroll but he locks up.
There’s a virtual safety car now.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 21/56 – YELLOW FLAG
08:39 , Chris Wilson
Bottas is off the track on turn 11, and there’s a yellow flag.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 20/56
08:39 , Chris Wilson
Verstappen is already into a 2.6-second lead.
Norris, Leclerc, Perez and Alonso round out the top five.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 19/56
08:37 , Chris Wilson
Norris still hasn’t pitted, so perhaps he will go for the one-stop strategy.
Nevertheless, Verstappen is only half a second behind. Verstappen gets into the lead once more as they approach the hairpin.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 18/56
08:36 , Chris Wilson
On Norris’ radio, his team advise that Leclerc might try the ‘one stop’ strategy.
Leclerc had just been on the radio speaking to Ferrari about a “Plan D”.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 17/56
08:34 , Chris Wilson
Perez has overtaken Sainz and moved into fourth. Sainz then pits, and comes out in tenth just ahead of Bottas.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 17/56
08:33 , Chris Wilson
Hamilton is up into 14th but seems to be struggling somewhat. He laments over radio that his car “is so slow”.
Elsewhere, Piastri pits and comes out in ninth. He’s on mediums now.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 16/56
08:31 , Chris Wilson
Charles Leclerc leaves the gap open for Verstappen to overtake on the inside, and the Dutchman is into second.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 15/56
08:30 , Chris Wilson
Verstappen is already up into third, and is just over a second behind Leclerc in second. Neither Norris or Leclerc have pitted yet, of course.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 15/56
08:29 , Chris Wilson
Both Verstappen and Perez on the hard tyres now.
Norris is leading the race, with Leclerc almost seven seconds behind.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 14/56
08:28 , Chris Wilson
Verstappen comes out of the pits in fourth, behind Norris, Leclerc and Piastri, but ahead of Sainz.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 13/56
08:27 , Chris Wilson
Hamilton is up to 15th as he overtakes Tsunoda on the outside at turn one.
Verstappen pits alongside Sergio Perez.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 12/56
08:25 , Chris Wilson
A few more pit stops. this time from Alonso, Russell and Gasly, among others. Gasly’s stop costs him some time, and there are reports that an Alpine team member was injured during it.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 12/56
08:24 , Chris Wilson
Leclerc moves into the top four, overtaking Piastri on the inside.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 11/56
08:23 , Chris Wilson
Verstappe, perez, Norris, Alonso and Piastri make the top five at the moment.
Russell is still denying Sainz, but it looks like the Ferrari will overtake soon.
Hamilton, back in 19th, says on radio that “that was the worst tyre”.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 10/56
08:21 , Chris Wilson
More early pit stops, this time from Hamilton, Albon, Ocon and Stroll. Hamilton has switched to the mediums.
For Stroll, some light relief as that earlier incident is cleared.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 9/56
08:20 , Chris Wilson
Verstappen has opened up a 7.4s lead before we even reach lap 10.
Some tyre change already as Hulkenberg, Tsuonda and Zhou have already pitted.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 8/56
08:19 , Chris Wilson
Leclerc is stuck behind Russell in seventh. He tries to break down the outside but Russell defends well for now.
Down the main straight, Leclerc gets the DRS and overtakes around the outside on turn one!
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 6/56
08:17 , Chris Wilson
Race control are looking at several incidents already, though nothing reported to the stewards yet.
Stroll overtook Hulkenberg at turn six, while a driver was forced off the track in an incident between Gasly and Albon.
Towards the leaders, Norris is racing well and he takes over Alonso at the turn six hairpin, moving up into third place!
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 5/56
08:14 , Chris Wilson
Here’s some replays of the start!
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 5/56
08:12 , Chris Wilson
Verstappen is seemingly racing himself already. His lead is over four seconds already!
Perez has second place once more as he overtakes Alonso on the inside at turn six.
Alonso seemingly realised that he was pushing a lot harder than the Red Bull, so let him overtake.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 3/56
08:11 , Chris Wilson
Hamilton doesn’t seem impressed early on, lamenting that he’s making “no ground” on his soft tyres.
Further up the grid, Alonso is managing to hold off the challenge from Sergio Perez despite the latter’s DRS.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lap 2/56
08:09 , Chris Wilson
Here are the standings in lap two.
1) Verstappen
2) Alonso
3) Perez
4) Norris
5) Piastri
6) Russell
7) Leclerc
8) Sainz
9) Stroll
10) Hulkenberg
11) Bottas
12) Ocon
13) Albon
14) Gasly
15) Ricciardo
16) Tsunoda
17) Magnussen
18) Hamilton
19) Zhou
20) Sargeant
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Lights out!
08:07 , Chris Wilson
Verstappen gets away quickly and stays in first but Alonso has gone aggressive from third and seems to have overtaken Perez around the outside!
Carlos Sainz has lost a couple of places, while teammate Charles Leclerc has lost a place too.
Lewis Hamilton has lost a place too, while teammate George Russell has gained two places.
Alonso, in second, is 1.830 seconds behind.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix: Formation lap!
08:01 , Chris Wilson
Max Verstappen leads the pack around the 3.387 miles of the Shanghai International Circuit.
The majority of the grid are on medium tyres, with the exception of some of those from 11th and further back, including Lewis Hamilton, who is on soft, as is Lance Stroll.
Will we have similar early drama to that of the last race in Suzuka earlier this month?
What is the starting grid?
07:57 , Chris Wilson
1) Verstappen
2) Perez
3) Alonso
4) Norris
5) Piastri
6) Leclerc
7) Sainz
8) Russell
9) Hulkenberg
10) Bottas
11) Stroll
12) Ricciardo
13) Ocon
14) Albon
15) Gasly
16) Zhou
17) Magnussen
18) Hamilton
19) Tsunoda
20) Sargeant
F1 Chinese Grand Prix LIVE: Race updates
07:54 , Chris Wilson
Final preparations underway before the formation lap.
Aston Martin are making some last-minute adjustments to Fernando Alonso’s car, while on Sky Sports they’re discussing Red Bull and Ferrari’s superior tyre degradation. The two leading teams have two new sets of hard tyres left, while Mercedes and McLaren only have one.
Constructor standings ahead of Chinese Grand Prix
07:49 , Chris Wilson
1. Red Bull – 155 points
2. Ferrari – 129 points
3. McLaren – 74 points
4. Mercedes – 42 points
5. Aston Martin – 33 points
6. RB – 7 points
7. Haas – 4 points
8. Williams – 0 points
9. Kick Sauber – 0 points
10. Alpine – 0 points
F1 Chinese Grand Prix LIVE: Race updates
07:47 , Chris Wilson
The Chinese national anthem is playing out as the drivers line up and prepare for lights out.
F1 Chinese Grand Prix LIVE: pre-race Driver Standings
07:42 , Chris Wilson
Here are the updated driver standings after the result of yesterday’s sprint race.
1. Max Verstappen – 85 points
2. Sergio Perez – 70 points
3. Charles Leclerc – 64 points
4. Carlos Sainz – 59 points
5. Lando Norris – 40 points
6. Oscar Piastri – 34 points
7. George Russell – 25 points
8. Fernando Alonso – 24 points
9. Lewis Hamilton – 17 points
10. Lance Stroll – 9 points
11. Yuki Tsunoda – 7 points
12. Oliver Bearman – 6 points
13. Nico Hulkenberg – 3 points
14. Kevin Magnussen – 1 point
15. Alex Albon – 0 points
16. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points
17. Daniel Ricciardo – 0 points
18. Esteban Ocon – 0 points
19. Pierre Gasly – 0 points
20. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points
21. Logan Sargeant – 0 points
Max Verstappen denies Lewis Hamilton a sprint victory in China
07:35 , Chris Wilson
Max Verstappen denied Lewis Hamilton the first sprint win of his career after passing his rival to win in China on Saturday.
Hamilton started second, and rolled back the years at the Shanghai International Circuit by beating pole-sitter Lando Norris off the line, and taking control of the 19-lap charge to the chequered flag.
But Verstappen, who started fourth, ended Hamilton’s dream of re-entering the winner’s enclosure for the first time in 867 days when he blasted past the Mercedes driver on the ninth lap.
Verstappen crossed the line 13 seconds clear of Hamilton with Sergio Perez taking third.
Max Verstappen denies Lewis Hamilton a sprint victory in China
F1 start time: When is the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix and how can I watch?
07:28 , Chris Wilson
A reminder of how you can watch today’s race.
Formula 1 returns to China after a five-year absence as the ShanghaiInternational Circuit hosts the fifth race of the 2024 season – and the first of six sprint weekends.
Max Verstappen returned to winning ways last time out in Japan, cruising to another victory and leading home a third Red Bull one-two finish of the season, with team-mate Sergio Perez again second-best.
The race begins at 8am BST and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom, and ESPN in the United States. Sky’s coverage of Sunday’s race starts at 7am (BST).
The race highlights will be aired on free-to-air Channel 4 at 12:30pm (BST) on Sunday.
When is the 2024 Chinese Grand Prix and how can I watch?
Lewis Hamilton responds to Nico Rosberg comments after worst F1 qualifying since 2017
07:20 , Jamie Braidwood
Lewis Hamilton insisted he is “mentally very strong” after his worst qualifying in nearly seven years which was labelled a “disaster” and “unnecessary” by former rival Nico Rosberg.
Hamilton will line up in 18th position for Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix after his troubled start to the new season took another desperate twist in Shanghai.
Earlier on Saturday, Hamilton rolled back the years to lead the sprint race for eight laps before he had to settle for second after he was overtaken by eventual winner Max Verstappen.
But four hours after a result Hamilton described as his “best in a long time”, the 39-year-old was brought crashing back down to earth when he was eliminated in the opening phase of qualifying for Sunday’s main event.
Lewis Hamilton responds to Nico Rosberg comments after worst F1 qualifying since 2017
Lando Norris warns F1 fans will be turned off by Max Verstappen’s dominance
07:10 , Jamie Braidwood
Lando Norris fears Max Verstappen’s “boring” dominance of Formula One is forcing fans away.
Verstappen became the first driver this century to start the season with five consecutive pole positions after a crushing performance in qualifying for Sunday’s Chinese Grand Prix.
The Dutchman, 26, saw off Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez by 0.322 seconds at the Shanghai International Circuit to take top spot, after he earlier raced from fourth to first in the 19-lap sprint race.
Remarkably, since Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton to the 2021 world championship in Abu Dhabi, the Red Bull driver has won 37 of the 48 races staged, and he is firmly on course to wrap up his fourth title in as many seasons.
07:00 , Jamie Braidwood
The Chinese Grand Prix returns as Max Verstappen starts on pole and Lewis Hamilton takes to the grid in a lowly 18th after his worst qualifying result since 2017.
Hamilton finished second in Saturday’s F1 Sprint – a result he described as his “best in a long time” – but was brought crashing back down to earth when he was eliminated in the opening phase of qualifying for Sunday’s main event.
The seven-time world champion locked up at the penultimate corner on his speediest lap, and he finished in the Q1 knockout zone, leaving only RB’s Yuki Tsunoda and Williams’ Logan Sargeant behind him on the grid.
Verstappen, who is on course to take his fourth consecutive world championship, saw off team-mate Sergio Perez, with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso third and Lando Norris fourth – ahead of Oscar Piastri in the other McLaren.
Charles Leclerc and Sainz finished sixth and seventh respectively for Ferrari, while George Russell could manage only eighth on a poor afternoon for the Silver Arrows.
Follow live coverage of the Chinese Grand Prix with The Independent
EMEA Tribune is not involved in this news article, it is taken from our partners and or from the News Agencies. Copyright and Credit go to the News Agencies, email news@emeatribune.com Follow our WhatsApp verified Channel
