A special round of Formula One is upon us, as the sport celebrates a milestone 1000th grand prix in China. Join The Roar for a live blog, starting from 4:10pm AEST.
Shanghai once again lends its unique 5.4km circuit to the Chinese Grand Prix, which over the 56-laps poses to offer up plenty of high-speed corners and plenty of overtaking on the long straights.
Heading into the race, Mercedes AMG have been the dominant force in Shanghai during the hybrid era, winning four of the last five races. Ferrari, who were strong last time out in Bahrain, albeit didn’t win – haven’t won in China since 2013.
Championship leader Valtteri Bottas, who was strong during practice, claimed his second pole position of the season as the Silver Arrows locked out the front row of the grid, with Lewis Hamilton starting alongside his teammate.
Both Ferraris occupy the second row of the grid, with Sebastian Vettel leading Charles Leclerc, who was audibly frustrated after his final attempt at a Q3 lap.
Even more frustrated after Q3, was Max Verstappen who was fifth fastest and left fuming at the Renault drivers, who had been backed up and prevented the Dutchman from another fastest lap.
Strategically, the top five drivers set their fastest Q2 laps on the medium tyre and thus will start the race on that compound and potentially run quite long into the opening phase of the race.
Behind the top three teams, Renault found themselves with both cars qualifying in the top ten for the first time in 2019, with Daniel Ricciardo the star for his best grid position for the new season.
The Haas cars both edged out the rest of their midfield competition to get into the top ten, however there is a question mark over their race pace, which was absent last time out in Bahrain.
Despite Mercedes AMG having the front-row locked out, Ferrari still seem the favourites for the race, especially with their power advantage down the straights. Will we see red overtaking silver early?
So close are Mercedes AMG and Ferrari that anything could happen.
With this such a special occasion for Formula One, don’t miss The Roar’s live blog coverage of the Chinese Grand Prix from 4:10pm AEST, as we celebrate the 1000th race for this illustrious sport.
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
Renault definitely need to resolve their reliability issues in order to secure the 7th and 8th places they deserve. I think the only way they'll be able to move up the order is if one of the frontrunners (Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull) has a problem and retires or runs behind them in the standings. Renault might be able to take advantage of the craziness that we usually get in Azerbaijan unless they themselves are caught up in the craziness!
Jim the Geo
Roar Rookie
Glad to see Daniel in the points at long last - maybe 6th is the best Renault can achieve, despite the bold pre-season statements? Maybe the next milestone should be getting both cars to finish - Daniel and Nico deserve better.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
That then wraps up this live blog of the Chinese Grand Prix. Thanks again for tuning in and The Roar will return for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on the streets of Baku in two-week's time. Until then, thanks and good night.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Thoughts on the race then Roarers?
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
-------- DRIVER'S -------- 68 -- Lewis Hamilton 62 -- Valtteri Bottas 39 -- Max Verstappen 37 -- Sebastian Vettel 36 -- Charles Leclerc 13 -- Pierre Gasly 12 -- Kimi Räikkönen 8 --- Lando Norris 8 --- Kevin Magnussen 6 --- Nico Hulkenberg 6 --- Daniel Ricciardo 5 --- Sergio Perez 3 --- Alexander Albon 2 --- Lance Stroll 1 --- Daniil Kvyat 0 --- Antonio Giovinazzi 0 --- Romain Grosjean 0 --- Carlos Sainz 0 --- George Russell 0 --- Robert Kubica
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
----- CONSTRUCTOR'S ----- 130 - Mercedes AMG 73 -- Scuderia Ferrari 52 -- Aston Martin Red Bull Racing 12 -- Renault 12 -- Alfa Romeo Racing 8 --- Haas Ferrari 8 --- McLaren Renault 7 --- Racing Point Mercedes 4 --- Red Bull Toro Rosso Honda 0 --- Williams Mercedes
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
RACE REPORT It was another Mercedes masterclass at the Chinese Grand Prix, as Lewis Hamilton took a dominant victory in Formula One’s 1000th world championship race. Locking out the front-row of the grid, Valtteri Bottas started on pole position, however was beaten off the line by his teammate who then went untroubled into the 56-laps ahead. Completing their third consecutive one-two finish of 2019, Mercedes AMG left rivals Ferrari in their wake, with the Scuderia struggling to match the pace of the class leaders throughout the grand prix. Such was the dominance of Mercedes, that they double stacked their cars during the second round of pit-stops, with a perfect outcome and no loss for either drivers. Charles Leclerc got the better start than Sebastian Vettel from fourth, however team orders were quickly enforced by Ferrari to put the faster German ahead. Though no impact was made, as Leclerc was left in a strategic blunder and in the clutches of Max Verstappen. Third was claimed by Vettel, who matched the winning strategy, but ultimately did not have the answer to the speed of the Silver Arrows. Leclerc unfortunately, with a late second stop was left behind in fifth by Verstappen. With a free pit-stop up their sleeve, Red Bull stopped Pierre Gasly from sixth on the penultimate lap of the race in attempt to claim an extra point by setting the fastest lap, which the Frenchman did and stripped that honour from Vettel. Daniel Ricciardo chalked up his first points of 2019 with Renault, as the French manufacturer endured another mixed race, with the retirement of Nico Hulkenberg with another power-unit gremlin. Differing strategies in the midfield saw Sergio Perez ultimately hold off Kimi Räikkönen for eighth, with the Finn on the hard tyre at the end having a shot at the Racing Point which held that position. Similar was the outcome for Alexander Albon in tenth, who put in a stellar effort to score a point after starting the race from the pit-lane, following a rebuild of his Toro Rosso chassis after a nasty crash in third practice yesterday. Albon, who also claimed the ‘Driver of the Day’ honour held off a late assault from Romain Grosjean on fresher tyres, as Haas once again were left scratching their heads with a lack of race pace. A poor day for McLaren also, who had their race compromised by a hard charging Daniil Kvyat on the first lap, who clashed with both Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz. Kvyat was penalised with a drive-through and later retired from the race, however so did Norris – while Sainz finished a lap down.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
STANDBY FOR RACE REPORT AND UPDATED STANDINGS
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
POST-RACE INTERVIEWS - Hosted by Martin Brundle HAMILTON - "It's not been the most straight forward of weekends, but everyone has worked very hard." "The start was where I was able to make the difference." "The strategists have really been on point." BOTTAS - "I think I lost it in the start today." "In the first stint and dirty air I couldn't follow." "I'm really proud of the team for three perfect weekends." VETTEL - "I'm happy to be on the podium, but we tried to stick with them [Mercedes] but they were too quick for us today."
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
RESULTS FROM THE 56-LAP CHINESE GRAND PRIX 1 L. Hamilton 2 V. Bottas 3 S. Vettel 4 M. Verstappen 5 C. Leclerc 6 P. Gasly (FASTEST LAP) 7 D. Ricciardo 8 S. Perez 9 K. Räikkönen 10 A. Albon 11 R. Grosjean 12 L. Stroll 13 K. Magnussen 14 C. Sainz 15 A. Giovinazzi 16 G. Russell 17 R. Kubica 18 L. Norris RET D. Kvyat RET N. Hulkenberg
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
LEWIS HAMILTON WINS THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX AND THE 1000TH F1 RACE Another Mercedes AMG one-two finish, as Valtteri Bottas comes home second and completes the Silver Arrows domination. And Sebastian Vettel is third for Ferrari, claiming is first podium of the season.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 56/56: FINAL LAP
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 55/56: 2 LAPS TO GO Gasly with a free pit-stop throws on the soft tyres and looks to have a crack at the fastest lap for that extra point. Grosjean now using DRS against Albon, as the Toro Rosso stays ahead in tenth for now.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 54/56: 3 LAPS TO GO Grosjean right on the tail of Albon now, as the Toro Rosso prepares to defend the championship point against the Haas. A forgettable day for Norris is capped off, as McLaren retire the teenager with that floor damage sustained from that first lap clash with Kvyat.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 53/56: Leclerc had some concerns about his gearbox, however the team have assured their driver that it is fine.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 52/56: Single stopping Albon now has the two-stopping Grosjean creeping into his rearview mirrors, with the Haas only 1.4 seconds behind.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 51/56: Looks like Leclerc doesn't have the time now, on the numbers that he is showing, to be able to catch and pass Verstappen for fourth.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 50/56: HAM BOT VET VER LEC GAS RIC PER RÄI ALB GRO MAG STR GIO SAI RUS NOR KUB the order at present. Kvyat and Hulkenberg are out of the race.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 49/56: Fastest lap honours still sit with Vettel, who at this stage will gain an extra championship point in third.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 48/56: A little moment sees Räikkönen crossed up, though he holds it together as he is now 1.2 seconds behind Perez. Gaps between the top three remain the same, as Bottas has a reprieve from Vettel.