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Qualifying for the Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix in Shanghai kicks off at 4.00pm AEST, and The Roar will be your one-stop destination for live updates all session.
Shake off your chocolate-induced lethargy and, uh, get comfortable on the couch – Formula One has returned from its Easter break to set up shop in China for Round 3 of the 2013 World Championship.
The first two rounds of the season are difficult to read – Melbourne is a unique circuit from which little can truly be learnt, while Sepang is at the very extreme end of the tyre wear and temperature scales.
Shanghai represents a circuit more moderate in its qualities. Over the course of 5.45 kilometres, drivers encounter only a handful of medium or fast corners, the rest of the track being made up of tight and twisty stuff or long stretches of straight road.
As is now customary at this time of year, drivers will continue to complain about the Pirelli tyres while the teams still struggle to understand how to maximise the longevity of the rubber.
Shanghai is much easier for tyre wear, but the lower ambient temperatures mean cars will have to work hard to keep heat in the tyres, lest they grain quickly – as free practice has been demonstrating.
If you’re new to qualifying in Formula One, expect the afternoon to run something like this: the first 20 minutes will seek to eliminate the slowest six cars from running – all of whom will be assigned a spot on tomorrow’s grid based on their order.
Q2 last for fifteen minutes, at the end of which the next slowest six cars are switched off and put away before the race.
Finally, Q3 has the fastest ten drivers fight for pole position in a ten-minute knock-out session.
Red Bull continues to struggle on its tyres over a race distance – but the car’s one lap pace is arguably the best in the field.
Meanwhile, Mercedes will be hoping to make it back-to-back victories in China with a revitalised MGP W04.
But why speculate? Qualifying will kick off at 4PM AEST. Let’s find out for ourselves.