Sebastian Vettel takes Chinese Grand Prix pole for Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton only in fourth

• Sebastian Vettel takes pole ahead of his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen

• Lewis Hamilton only in fourth, behind Bottas

• The gap between Ferrari and Mercedes was around half-a-second

8:44AM

How does it look for tomorrow's race?

The gap in qualifying was fairly large between Ferrari and Mercedes. Race pace is a different thing, though. But Mercedes might be looking in their mirrors to Red Bull behind them. Should a Mercedes jump a Ferrari or a Red Bull jump a Mercedes at the start tomorrow - or both... - it could be interesting strategically. The Red Bulls start on the ultrasofts, though, while the top four start on the harder, more durable softs. Mercedes also looked better on those tyres. 

It is forecast for warmer temperatures tomorrow. That might help Mercedes. 

Down the field McLaren will again be disappointed with their qualifying performance. Their cars are certainly not the quickest in a straight line, even with Renault power. Renault look to have the fourth quickest car and Haas and Force India are not too far behind. A bit of a regression for Toro Rosso and Sauber, though. 

We'll be back again tomorrow around 6am for all the news and updates from the Chinese Grand Prix. It should be one worth getting up for.  We'll leave you with the image of polesitter Sebastian Vettel claiming his pole trophy. Yes, it is a small Pirelli tyre. What's wrong with that?

8:36AM

Those qualifying times and classification in full

1. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1min 31.095secs

2. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:31.182

3. Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Mercedes GP 1:31.625

4. Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:31.675

5. Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:31.796

6. Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull 1:31.948

7. Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Renault 1:32.532

8. Sergio Perez (Mex) Force India 1:32.758

9. Carlos Sainz (Spa) Renault 1:32.819

10. Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 1:32.855

11. Kevin Magnussen (Den) Haas F1 1:32.986

12. Esteban Ocon (Fra) Force India 1:33.057

13. Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren 1:33.232

14. Stoffel Vandoorne (Bel) McLaren 1:33.505

15. Brendon Hartley (Nzl) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:33.79

16. Sergey Sirotkin (Rus) Williams 1:34.062

17. Pierre Gasly (Fra) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:34.101

18. Lance Stroll (Can) Williams 1:34.285

19. Charles Leclerc (Mon) Sauber-Ferrari 1:34.454

20. Marcus Ericsson (Swe) Sauber-Ferrari 1:34.914

8:32AM

Lewis Hamilton reacts

"The Ferraris are too quick on the straight," he says about tomorrow. It'll be interesting to see if Mercedes can keep up with them, he adds. "I don't know if we can challenge, we were half-a-second behind today. I can't tell you if we can challenge. We were quicker in the last race but they were able to hold on," he adds. He has reason to be disgruntled for the third weekend in a row. 

8:28AM

Ricciardo reacts

It was a herculean effort from the Red Bull team to get his car out in time. His P6 is a decent effort after that. He's speaking to Sky Sports F1's Simon Lazenby about the car's long-run pace for tomorrow. 

"Mercedes definitely look within reach. In my mind there's still a spot on the podium up for grabs."

8:24AM

Alonso reacts

8:22AM

That's an improved performance from Force India

They looked to be ahead of the McLaren this weekend and so it proved. Both cars ahead of them. Good effort from Grosjean, too, after a rough couple of weekends. 

8:16AM

Toto Wolff reacts - he speaks to Sky Sports F1's Ted Kravitz

Did he expect that from Ferrari?

"No. They've been really strong all day. Qualifying performance they put one on top. We have something to think about."

What happened, Kravitz asks. Colder conditions should have suited them - certainly better than Bahrain. But Wolff thinks it was simply too cold. 

"I think it's tricky. We're lacking grip and you can fall out of the window by the tyres being too hot or the tyres being too cold."

And for tomorrow's race? It'll be warmer. 

"We just need to have pace. And if you have pace you can undercut and overcut."

8:12AM

The first consecutive Ferrari front-row lockout since 2006

That feels like a moment, doesn't it? Mercedes will be scratching their heads. The gap is significant at the moment. Again, both Ferraris ahead of both Mercedes presents - potentially - a strategic advantage tomorrow. They just about made it work in Bahrain but it could have been more emphatic had Raikkonen not retired. 

8:07AM

Vettel reacts...

"I don't know. It looks like on Kimi's side there's more rubber so I need a good start," Vettel says jokingly when asked about the start tomorrow. 

The gap between Mercedes and Ferrari was half-a-second. They are closer to the Red Bulls than they are Ferrari. Not much to choose between Perez, Sainz and Grosjean down there. 

8:06AM

Q3 classification - here's how they'll line up tomorrow

1. Vettel - Ferrari

2. Raikkonen - Ferrari

3. Bottas - Mercedes

4. Hamilton - Mercedes

5. Verstappen - Red Bull

6. Ricciardo - Red Bull

7. Hulkenberg - Renault

8. Perez - Force India

9. Sainz - Renault

10. Grosjean - Haas

Bottas out-qualifies Hamilton for the second time in two races. He's put in some relatively strong performances since that disaster in Melbourne. 

8:04AM

Forza Ferrari!

Do Ferrari have the quickest car of 2018? They've made some progress since Melbourne. 

8:02AM

SEBASTIAN VETTEL TAKES POLE FOR THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX

Vettel does it! Just! He sets a 1.31.095. Again he finds time when he needs it. What a lap that was...another Ferrari front-row lock-out.

Verstappen takes fifth ahead of Ricciardo in sixth...Hulkenberg down in P7, Perez in P8, Sainz in P9 and Grosjean in P10. 

"Ba-ba-ba-boom," says Vettel on the radio. He's happy. 

8:00AM

Raikkonen improves!

By just 0.018! Vettel has to find some time here...can he do it?

8:00AM

Raikkonen goes purple in sector 1

Bottas goes purple in S2. He stays in third...what can Hamilton do? He pits! He won't improve his position. Can the Red Bull split them?

7:59AM

Bottas and Hamilton down by two tenths on Raikkonen in the first sector

Not looking good for them. It'll be a battle between them, it looks like...

7:57AM

A hot, hot lap for the iceman

OK. 

7:57AM

Top six...two-by-two so far...second runs starting...

The gaps between each of the Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bulls are small - around 0.1 seconds - but the gaps between each team is bigger. Can a Red Bull split the Mercedes? Can a Mercedes split the Ferraris? Can Raikkonen beat Vettel?

The second runs are about to start - three minutes or so to go.

7:54AM

Q3 - Top 10 after the first runs - six minutes to go

1. Raikkonen

2. Vettel

3. Bottas

4. Hamilton

5. Verstappen

6. Ricciardo

7. Hulkenberg

8. Grosjean

8. Sainz

10. Perez (no time)

7:53AM

Raikkonen goes quickest!

A 1.31.200 flat - the best ever lap here. Vettel is two tenths behind...Ricciardo sets a time enough for P3...but he's beaten by Bottas who goes 0.4 behind Raikkonen. Verstappen then goes ahead of Ricciardo by a tight margin...

Here comes Hamilton...what can he do? It's only enough for P4, 0.05 behind his team-mate...

7:52AM

Raikkonen the first of the top two teams to set a time

He's very careful on his out-lap with the ultrasofts. His first sector is a 24.0...Vettel sets a 24.1. 

Hulkenberg sets a time - a 1.32.602. Grosjean goes two tenths behind. 

7:49AM

Q3 starts...12 minutes to go

It's a shoot-out between Hamilton, Bottas, Raikkonen, Vettel, Hulkenberg, Grosjean, Ricciardo, Verstappen, Perez and Sainz. Here we go...can Mercedes do it? Party mode needed here? Top cars will set their times on the ultrasofts here. 

7:46AM

That's a quick lap from Hulkenberg - Renault looking quite strong

7:46AM

Q2 top 10

Mercedes found a lot of time in that session. Ferrari didn't set a time on the ultrasofts in the end - wise. Hardly any time to choose between Perez in P9, Sainz in P10 and Magnussen in P11. 

1. Hamilton 

2. Bottas (+0.149)

3. Raikkonen (+0.372)

4. Vettel (+0.471)

5. Hulkenberg (+0.580)

6. Grosjean (+0.610)

7. Ricciardo (+0.774)

8. Verstappen (+0.895)

9. Perez (+1.017)

10. Sainz (+1.056)

7:43AM

Q2 ends!

Some great laps in there and some laps not good enough.  McLaren tried a tow down the back straight to little avail.  Not a great session for them. They'll need to make up places in the race, again. Their one-lap pace has been poor all season.  Magnussen missed out very marginally. 

Drivers eliminated in Q2:

11. Magnussen

12. Ocon

13. Alonso

14. Vandoorne

15. Hartley

7:41AM

Chequered flag!

All drivers setting times here, or nearly! Hulkenberg goes into P4! Bottas then slips into P2. Ocon is pushed out by his team-mate. Sainz with a last-ditch lap goes into P10! Enough to take him into Q3. Magnussen doesn't make it...Both McLarens out...

7:40AM

Hamilton goes into P1 on the softs!

That's the quickest lap so far. Great effort. Ferrari on the ultrasofts and about to set times...

Alonso goes P9. Will that be enough?

7:38AM

Q2 - two minutes to go...

Everyone out? 

7:38AM

Flying Ferrari

7:37AM

Well, well, well...

This is interesting. Ferrari safe and shouldn't need to run again - but Kimi and Seb go out on the ultrasofts to cover the rest. Hamilton goes out on another set of the softs...

7:35AM

Q2 top 10 after the first runs

1. Raikkonen

2. Vettel

3. Ricciardo

4. Bottas

5. Verstappen

6. Hamilton

7. Magnussen

8. Hulkenberg

9. Ocon

10. Perez

Drivers in danger:

11. Sainz

12. Vandoorne

13. Hartley

14. Grosjean (no time)

15. Alonso (no time)

7:33AM

Bottas sets his second timed lap on the same tyres

Bottas moves ahead of Verstappen but behind Ricciardo. He's in P4. Hamilton sets his next timed lap with a 1.32.887, enough for P6. Hamilton is only 0.5 seconds or so away from the cut-off for Q3...will Mercedes run again? 

7:32AM

The Red Bull drivers set their times on the ultrasofts...

And they go third and fourth, ahead of the Mercedes cars...

Magnussen in P6, Hulkenberg in P7, Hamilton in P8 now. Ocon P9 and Perez in P10. 

7:31AM

The Ferraris post their times - and they're both quicker...

Raikkonen sets a 1.32.286, Vettel goes 0.099s behind him. Hamilton's race engineer, meanwhile, suggests that Hamilton is going for another hot lap on the soft tyres. Both Red Bulls on the ultrasoft tyres. 

7:29AM

Bottas goes quickest

That's a 1.32.931. Hamilton sets a time four tenths down from his team-mate. Not looking good. 

7:26AM

Q2 starts - 15 minutes to go

Tough to suggest who will lose out here. Bottas is first out followed by Hamilton - both on the soft tyres. Ferraris also out on the softs...

7:24AM

A tough weekend for Williams - again

They looked to have made an improvement in FP3. Not to be, both drivers out in Q1 again. 

7:22AM

Good news for Brendon Hartley - he's had a bit of bad luck so far this season

 He out-qualifies his team-mate Gasly. 

7:21AM

Q1 top 15 - drivers through to Q2

1. Vettel

2. Raikkonen

3. Bottas

4. Verstappen

5. Grosjean

6. Hamilton

7. Sainz

8. Magnussen

9. Alonso

10. Perez

11. Hulkenberg

12. Ocon

13. Vandoorne

14. Ricciardo

15. Hartley

7:20AM

Q1 ends - Drivers out in Q1

16. Sirotkin

17. Gasly

18. Stroll

19. Leclerc

20. Ericsson

A quick turnaround in fortunes for Ericsson and Gasly after Bahrain. Ricciardo makes it through though. Great effort. 

7:19AM

A frantic end to the session...

Can Gasly make it out of Q1? He doesn't...he sets a time only good enough for P17. 

7:18AM

Ricciardo sets a 1.33.877, enough for P13...

He goes VERY deep into the hairpin and loses some time. 

7:17AM

Everyone from Alonso in P9 down is on the track...

Is Ocon safe in P8? Danny Ricc' starts his hot lap. 

7:15AM

Ricciardo takes the track!

Good work from the Red Bull team there. He slides dramatically out of his garage. Here it goes. He'll get one timed lap. Can he make it work?

7:14AM

Fastest sectors so far

7:13AM

Drivers in danger with five minutes of Q1 to go

16. Hartley

17. Ericsson

18. Stroll

19. Leclerc

20. Ricciardo (no time)

7:12AM

YELLOW FLAG

Leclerc runs very wide on exit to the final turn, going on the astroturf and getting a tank-slapper on. He does well to keep it out of the wall. Racing resumes shortly after, green flag. 

7:11AM

Verstappen splits the Mercedes with a 1.32.932...

Ricciardo was seen in his car but he is yet to take the track...

7:10AM

Top 10 with 8 minutes to go

1. Vettel

2. Raikkonen

3. Bottas

4. Hamilton

5. Perez

6. Ocon

7. Alonso

8. Magnussen (set his lap on soft tyres)

9. Grosjean

10. Vandoorne

7:08AM

Tyre choices

7:07AM

Vettel goes quickest

His time is 0.303 quicker than Raikkonen. That leaves Hamilton over a second down from the leading time after the first runs. Worrying for Lewis. 

7:06AM

Raikkonen goes quickest

That's a 1.32.474 for the Finn. Bottas then follows him over the line with a 1.32.921 and Hamilton soon after with a 1.33.283. That's a big gap, even at this stage between Raikkonen and Bottas and Bottas and Hamilton. Curious. 

7:04AM

Leclerc sets the first timed lap of the session

A 1.35.189. His team-mate follows it up but around 0.5s behind him. Hartley them trumps them all before Gasly does similar. He sets a 1.35.016, marginally ahead of his team-mate. 

7:00AM

Q1 starts...

18 minutes to go. Sirotkin the first driver out...on the softs.  Williams had an improved session this morning. 

7:00AM

Ricciardo update

Sky Sports F1's pitlane reporter Ted Kravitz informs us that it's looking very unlikely that Daniel Ricciardo's car will be ready due to his engine issues. He tells us that there was not another power unit ready to go into the car, should they need an engine change. Oops. 

6:55AM

Qualifying conditions

 Are you ready? Five minutes to go...

6:54AM

Problems for Grosjean

The Haas man had a brake-by-wire problem going into FP3. They've had to change the rear brakes. He only managed six laps in that session and was slowest. 

6:51AM

Mercedes dominance in Shanghai

No other team has won here since the start of the V6 turbo hybrid era. To be fair, they have won the majority of races since then. They have had four poles as well - Hamilton taking three of them. The Briton had a scrappy FP3 but if anyone is capable of turning it around then it's him. 

6:47AM

Can Red Bull get Ricciardo's car ready? 15 minutes or so until Q1 starts...

6:45AM

This weekend's track

Some decent opportunities for overtaking, come tomorrow. 

6:39AM

Ricciardo's engine fails in FP3

6:37AM

Friday and Saturday practice observations

Aside from the fight at the front being tight, there were some interesting things to note on Friday. Force India seem to have made a bit of progress on long-run pace and they found some decent pace in FP3 as well, finishing in P7 and P8. Renault looked to be the fourth quickest car in Friday on both short and long-run pace. Tyre strategy could also be important - Mercedes made the mediums work well in Bahrain and used that compound a lot in pre-season testing, too.

It'll be interesting to see what drivers choose as their starting race tyres. This weekend we have the medium, soft and ultrasofts. Force India drivers have a few sets of medium tyres each. The Red Bull car didn't seem to work very well on the ultrasofts, but they have bigger problems now. 

Also worth noting that Ferrari have the advantage on the straights as well - Kimi Raikkonen was quickest in the speed trap in FP3 at 328.2km/h. Hamilton was around 3.5 down on that. 

6:30AM

David Coulthard claims McLaren's lack of progress is alarming

Read the full column from the former McLaren man here.  

6:26AM

FP3 top 10

6:17AM

Good morning! Qualifying starts in around 45 minutes - can Mercedes claw this one back after a difficult FP3?

We'll be here for the next couple of hours or so, bringing you all the updates and the reaction from Q1, Q2 and Q3. In third and final practice this morning Ferrari were quickest - for the first time this weekend - and Mercedes had a bit of a tough time. 

Championship leader Sebastian Vettel topped FP3 ahead of his Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen by 0.451 seconds. Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas finished in third behind them, 0.7 seconds behind Vettel. Lewis Hamilton had a troubled session and finished in fifth, over a second down after a big spin.  It marked a difference from FP1 and FP2 on Friday where Mercedes and Hamilton were quickest in both sessions. 

Max Verstappen was fourth for Red Bull - but his team-mate Daniel Ricciardo's power unit ate itself, dramatically blowing out flames and smoke from its back end. Not good news after a double retirement in Bahrain.  Reports suggest it was the MGU-H component that failed. They have a struggle to get that ready for qualifying.  Haas's Kevin Magnussen was the best-of-the-rest in sixth. 

It has been a fairly unpredictable season so far and we don't really know who is ahead at the front, but Sebastian Vettel leads the championship after two wins. The conditions at the Shanghai International Circuit are cold, which should suit Mercedes, but it didn't in FP3. 

What can we expect this  year? China has been traditionally good for overtaking, with the best opportunities into turns one and into the penultimate corner hairpin, after the long back straight. Mercedes look to be quick but Ferrari aren't too far behind. Red Bull's long-run pace seems to be decent again. Whether they can have an issue-free weekend remains to be seen, though. They will struggle to have a worse weekend than last time out in Bahrain, when both cars retired within the first six laps. 

As for the rest of them, it's very tight and Williams and Sauber seem to be at the back again. 

2018 Chinese Grand Prix factfile:

Circuit length: 5.451 kilometres/3.681 miles

Laps: 56

Race distance: 305.066km/189.559 miles

Lap record: 1.32.238 (Michael Schumacher, 2004)

2017 pole position: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1.31.678secs

2017 winner: Lewis Hamilton

2017 fastest lap: Lewis Hamilton 1.35.378

Tyre compounds to be used: medium/soft/ultrasoft

Winners from pole position since 2004: 9

Number of safety cars deployed since 2004: 8

What happened last year:

Lewis Hamilton qualified his Mercedes on pole ahead of Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari. He took his first win of 2017 on the Sunday, too, ahead of Vettel, to draw level in the championship after two rounds. Max Verstappen drove one of the best races of his career to take third after starting in P16 on the grid, taking driver of the day.