Ricciardo tops wet final session
Daniel Ricciardo topped a dull wet final practice session in China as both Mercedes drivers failed to record a time in a bid to preserve tyres for qualifying.
<font face='courier new'>[U]<font color='#ff8c00'>Chinese GP</font>
<font color='#008000'>Practice Session 3</font>
[/U]</font><font color='#0000ff'>Pos Driver Team/Car Time Gap Laps</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'> 1. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull-Renault 1m53.958s 5</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'> 2. Felipe Massa Williams-Mercedes 1m54.492s +0.534s 5</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'> 3. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m54.514s +0.556s 4</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'> 4. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m55.032s +1.074s 6</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'> 5. Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1m55.062s +1.104s 4</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'> 6. Pastor Maldonado Lotus-Renault 1m55.228s +1.27 s 12</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'> 7. Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso-Renault 1m55.235s +1.277s 7</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'> 8. Valtteri Bottas Williams-Mercedes 1m55.381s +1.423s 5</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'> 9. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m55.673s +1.715s 4</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>10. Sergio Perez Force India-Mercedes 1m56.019s +2.061s 6</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>11. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m56.233s +2.275s 8</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>12. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Renault 1m56.380s +2.422s 9</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>13. Adrian Sutil Sauber-Ferrari 1m56.760s +2.802s 8</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>14. Max Chilton Marussia-Ferrari 1m56.841s +2.883s 13</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>15. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 1m57.468s +3.51 s 9</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>16. Kamui Kobayashi Caterham-Renault 1m57.812s +3.854s 12</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>17. Jules Bianchi Marussia-Ferrari 1m57.976s +4.018s 14</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>18. Marcus Ericsson Caterham-Renault 1m59.507s +5.549s 6</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>19. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 4</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>20. Kevin Magnussen McLaren-Mercedes 3</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>21. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>22. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 3</font>
Hamilton masters the wet for pole
Lewis Hamilton turned in a masterclass in the rain to comfortably beat Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel to pole for the Chinese Grand Prix, with Nico Rosberg only managing fourth.
<font face='courier new'>[U]<font color='#ff8c00'>Chinese GP</font>
<font color='#008000'>Qualifying Session
</font>[/U]</font><font color='#0000ff'>Pos Driver Team/Car Time Gap</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'> 1. Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m53.860s</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'> 2. Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull-Renault 1m54.455s +0.595s</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'> 3. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m54.960s +1.100s</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'> 4. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m55.143s +1.283s</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'> 5. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m55.637s +1.777s</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'> 6. Felipe Massa Williams-Mercedes 1m56.147s +2.287s</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'> 7. Valtteri Bottas Williams-Mercedes 1m56.282s +2.422s</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'> 8. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m56.366s +2.506s</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'> 9. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Renault 1m56.773s +2.913s</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>10. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m57.079s +3.219s</font>
<font color='#0000ff'>Q3 cut-off time: 1m56.847s</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>11. Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1m56.860s +2.831s*</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>12. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m56.963s +2.934s*</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>13. Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso-Renault 1m57.289s +3.260s*</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>14. Adrian Sutil Sauber-Ferrari 1m57.393s +3.364s*</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>15. Kevin Magnussen McLaren-Mercedes 1m57.675s +3.646s*</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>16. Sergio Perez Force India-Mercedes 1m58.264s +4.235s*</font>
<font color='#0000ff'>Q2 cut-off time: 1m58.411s</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>17. Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 1m58.988s +3.472s**</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>18. Kamui Kobayashi Caterham-Renault 1m59.260s +3.744s**</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>19. Jules Bianchi Marussia-Ferrari 1m59.326s +3.810s**</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>20. Marcus Ericsson Caterham-Renault 2m00.646s +5.130s**</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>21. Max Chilton Marussia-Ferrari 2m00.865s +5.349s**</font>
<font color='#a9a9a9'>22. Pastor Maldonado Lotus-Renault</font>
<font color='#ee82ee'>107 per cent time: 2m03.602s</font>
<font color='#ee82ee'>* Gap to 1st in Q2 ** Gap to 1st in Q1</font>
Vettel admits Ricciardo is beating him 'fair and square'
Sebastian Vettel has admitted Daniel Ricciardo is beating him fair and square at the moment after being out-qualified by his Red Bull team-mate at the Chinese Grand Prix on Saturday.
Alonso confident of best showing yet in China
Fernando Alonso is confident Ferrari can have its most competitive race of the season in China after he qualified fifth on the grid on Saturday.
Mercedes called for a suspended ban for Red Bull
Mercedes called for Red Bull to be given a suspended three-race ban and six month disqualification as punishment for not adhering to the fuel flow regulations at the Australian Grand Prix.
Rosberg struggles with brakes in Shanghai qualifying
Braking issues were behind Nico Rosberg's struggle in qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix, but he admitted he was not quick enough in general to challenge for the front row of the grid.
Massa confident of taking fight to Red Bull and Ferrari
Felipe Massa says the prospect of a dry race in China means he will have his eyes set firmly on Ferrari and Red Bull after qualifying sixth.
Hamilton could have gone faster
Lewis Hamilton is convinced he could have taken pole position by an even bigger margin at the Chinese Grand Prix had he not made a mistake in the middle of the lap.
Raikkonen bemoans 'inconsistent' Ferrari
Kimi Raikkonen said his Ferrari's unpredictable handling was to blame for his poor showing during qualifying for the Chinese Grand Prix.
Strong finish still possible - Button
Jenson Button believes the way the current season has gone means it is very realistic to target a strong finish despite qualifying 12th for the Chinese Grand Prix.
Good start key to beating Mercedes - Ricciardo
After qualifying second in China, Daniel Ricciardo admits Mercedes still has the edge in all conditions over Red Bull but insists it could be all to play for if he can beat Lewis Hamilton off the line.
Rain cost me top five - Grosjean
Romain Grosjean admitted his 10th place on the grid could have been even better were it not for the rain returning at the beginning of Q3 in Shanghai.