Lights go out for the 2013 Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at 5.00PM AEST. Join The Roar for live updates on all the on-track action from Round 3 of the World Championship.
It’s been a long three long weeks since Formula One left Malaysia – but the memory of a Formula One driver isn’t easily faded.
Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel return to the spotlight as men at war, and both carrying the wounds of Sepang.
For Sebastian, his damage is self-inflicted – but the extra seven points sitting in his account can console him and his marked reputation.
But for Mark, the scars inflicted by the unconscionable act of treason committed by his teammate may never heal.
The relationship had always been strained at best, but the explosive decision by Vettel to pass Webber in total disregard of team orders has turned it toxic.
From here on in, the gloves are off. There’ll be no quarter asked and none given as Red Bull goes to war within itself.
As the battle brews inside Red Bull, outside of the team Formula One continues to grapple with the 2013-spec tyres.
An increasing number of drivers are adding their names to the list of unsatisfied Pirelli customers, as the teams attempt to harmonise car, rubber, and track.
While Shanghai will prove less stern a test than Sepang, the cooler track temperatures mean it’ll be getting heat into the tyres, rather than keeping them cool, that’ll define good strategy.
Red Bull continues to be the class act of the field, but expect its fellow frontrunners to be snapping at its heels, with the Austrian team yet to translate its blistering one-lap pace into a confident race performance.
Hanging over Mercedes’ head is its sole victory for 2012 – at this circuit, where it seemed unbeatable.
Can the new-look silver arrows make it back-to-back wins in Shanghai? Will McLaren improve on its woeful opening to the season? Will there be anyone watching from the grandstands at all?
For answers to these question, and probably more, we’ll go racing at 5.00pm AEST. Join us for some pre-race commentary, and coverage of all the action right here on The Roar.
Michael Lamonato
Expert
And that, my friends, is that for the 2013 Chinese Grand Prix. What a race! Take the week off to recover. Tell you employer and/or significant other that you need your rest, because in just one week we're doing it all over again in Bahrain. Hardly enough to time to catch your breath! As always, join us at The Roar for live coverage throughout the weekend of all the on-track action at the Sakhir International Circuit. 2013 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX Qualifying: 9PM AEST Race: 10PM AEST We'll see you then!
Michael Lamonato
Expert
Here's what the top three had to say after the race: FERNANDO ALONSO: "It was definitely a fantastic race for us, from the start to the end. The tyre degradation was better than expected, so we could manage the pace. "It feels great after the retirement in Malaysia. It's true we had some pace in the pocket, but it's difficult to know when to use it based on the state of the tyres. "The two races we've finished this year - second, and the a victory - the start of the campaign looks very good. We're optimistic." KIMI RAIKKONEN "I think in the end it was a pretty okay result. Obviously we wanted to win, but after a bad start we could still fight for second place. "Taking Perez, he pushed me on the kerb and I went on the grass, hit him on the read, and damaged my front. That didn't help, but it didn't affect the handling so much. "Without damage, we couldn't been faster - but good points and we'll do better next time." LEWIS HAMILTON "I'm really happy with today's result. Great result for the team, and very happy with the points. "Unfortunately we didn't have the pace these guys (Ferrari and Lotus) had, but still great to be on the podium."
Michael Lamonato
Expert
And the Drivers' Championship... 01 Sebastian Vettel, 52 02 Kimi Raikkonen, 49 03 Fernando Alonso, 43 04 Lewis Hamilton, 40 05 Felipe Massa, 30 06 Mark Webber, 26 07 Nico Rosberg, 12 08 Jenson Button, 12 09 Romain Grosjean, 11 10 Paul di Resta, 8 11 Daniel Ricciardo, 6 12 Adrian Sutil, 6 13 Nico Hulkenberg, 5 14 Sergio perez, 2 15 Jean-Eric Vergne, 1 16 Valtteri Bottas, 0 17 Esteban Gutierrez, 0 18 Jules Bianchi, 0 19 Charles Pic, 0 20 Pastor Maldonado, 0 21 Giedo van der Garde, 0 22 Max Chilton, 0
Michael Lamonato
Expert
And as the dramatic music plays out the podium before the champagne is released, here's the updated Constructors' Championship: 01 Red Bull Racing-Renault, 78 02 Ferrari, 73 03 Lotus-Renault, 60 04 Mercedes, 52 05 McLaren-Mercedes, 14 06 Force India-Mercedes, 14 07 STR-Ferrari, 7 08 Sauber-Ferrari, 5 09 Williams-Renault, 0 10 Marussia-Cosworth, 0 11 Caterham-Renault, 0
Michael Lamonato
Expert
And the depressing list of DNFs this round: Nico Rosberg, Lap 21 Mark Webber, Lap 15 Adrian Sutil, Lap 5 Esteban Gutierrez, Lap 4
Michael Lamonato
Expert
A moment to regain our composure. Allow me to furnish you with the results in the meanwhile: 1 Fernando Alonso, Ferrari 2 Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus 3 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes 4 Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull 5 Jenson Button, McLaren 6 Felipe Massa, Ferrari 7 Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso 8 Paul di Resta, Force India 9 Romain Grosjean, Lotus 10 Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber 11 Sergio Perez, McLaren 12 Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso 13 Valtteri Bottas, Williams 14 Pastor Maldonado, Williams 15 Jules Bianchi, Marussia 16 Charles Pic, Caterham 17 Max Chilton, Marussia 18 Giedo van der Garde, Caterham
Michael Lamonato
Expert
ALONSO WINS AND IT'S A PHOTO FINISH FOR THIRD. Hamilton keeps Vettel at bay by a mere two-tenths of a second. Also, Kimi Raikkonen was second. BUT WHAT A FINISH!
Michael Lamonato
Expert
But Vettel makes a mistake just before the DRS detection zone! Does he still ahve the DRS to use?
Michael Lamonato
Expert
And Hamilton's now in traffic! O, the drama!
Michael Lamonato
Expert
FINAL LAP Hamilton falls back from Raikkonen, while Vettel makes up another second on his track to the podium. Nay, scratch that - he's just two second away now!
Michael Lamonato
Expert
LAP55/56 Hamilton trails Raikkonen in second by 0.9 seconds, while Vettel is five seconds behind, but closing super-fast. Photo finish?
Michael Lamonato
Expert
Button is ALREADY losing time But his move forward has been eased by di Resta making a late stop of his own.
Michael Lamonato
Expert
Indeed, Vettel is duly instructed to 'race to the finish', since there's no risk from anyone behind him. Conversely, Button is told to defend against Massa, since he's too far behind di Resta to pass.
Michael Lamonato
Expert
LAP51/56 Vettel is ordered to box - and I'm sure that's one team directive he'll listen to, certainly. He'll be fitted with a new set of soft tyres and instructions to push to the end, or until the tyres are no more.
Michael Lamonato
Expert
LAP51/56 Button is now setting, unsurprisingly, fastest sectors. As he does so, he steams past Felipe Massa for sixth. 6 BUTTON 7 MASSA
Michael Lamonato
Expert
LAP50/56 Jenson Button makes his final stop for soft tyres. He exits between Massa and Ricciardo. Now the rush to the finish.
Michael Lamonato
Expert
LAP49/56 Button is told to push hard on this lap, he'll be pitting next time around. He has more to lose than Vettel, and will have more work to do once he changes tyres. But push too hard on the new soft tyres and they'll erode before the end of the race - they're that delicate.
Michael Lamonato
Expert
LAP48/56 The only drivers yet to complete their pit strategies are Sebastian Vettel (P2) and Jenson Button (P5). Both must change to the soft tyre for their final stint. Vettel will drop to around P6 after pitting, while Button will fall to P7 or P8. Both will then push hard to make up as many positions as possible in but a handful of laps, max.
Michael Lamonato
Expert
LAP45/56 Hamilton also passes Button. Buttons' falling back down the order, back down towards the position from which he started the race...
Michael Lamonato
Expert
BUT, he's passed by Kimi Raikkonen who's on new medium tyres and in his final stint. It still seems the right strategy was to qualify and start on the soft tyre.