Formula 1 returns to China after a five-year absence as the Shanghai International Circuit hosts the fifth race of the 2024 season – and the first of six sprint weekends.
Max Verstappen returned to winning ways last time out in Japan, cruising to another victory and leading home a third Red Bull one-two finish of the season, with team-mate Sergio Perez again second-best.
Carlos Sainz backed up his win in Australia with a third podium of the season, while it was another weekend to forget for Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes. Since then, Fernando Alonso has signed a new contract at Aston Martin, ending speculation he could replace Hamilton at the Silver Arrows next season.
China was selected as one of six venues to host a sprint weekend by F1 and returns to the calendar after five years following a spree of Covid-related cancellations. Hamilton won the Chinese Grand Prix last time out in 2019 and has been victorious six times in Shanghai.
Follow live coverage of the Chinese Grand Prix with The Independent
F1 Qualifying LIVE – Q2
Lewis Hamilton has been interviewed after finishing 18th: “Struggled, I couldn’t get it going to start with into turn 14. This morning, George and I had very similar cars, but this afternoon I went a long way one way and he went the other way. It didn’t work.
“I’ll give it my best shot, 18th is pretty bad. When I was making the set up changes I thought ‘it can’t get any worse’, but it did”
Sonia Twigg20 April 2024 08:49
F1 Qualifying LIVE – Q2
Russell was the first one out after that delay, he has yet to post a time so he will want as much time as possible to do so.
Sonia Twigg20 April 2024 08:48
F1 Qualifying LIVE – Q2 Red flag over
The teams are back out on track for the final 6 minutes and 44 seconds of qualifying after that Carlos Sainz incident.
Sonia Twigg20 April 2024 08:46
F1 Qualifying LIVE – Q2 Red flag
Mercedes made changes to help improve the car in low and mid-speed corners between sprint and qualifying, did that affect the lock up that caused Hamilton to run wide and finish in 18th place?
Sonia Twigg20 April 2024 08:45
F1 Qualifying LIVE – Q2 Red flag
Carlos Sainz might have massively got away with one there as it looks like the front wing absorbed most of the impact. He had to make his way back to the pits without one, but it remains to be seen how severe the damage is.
Sonia Twigg20 April 2024 08:40
F1 Qualifying LIVE – Q2 Red flag
While Sainz crawls his way back to the pits, but it remains to be seen if he will be able to get his car up and running again.
Sonia Twigg20 April 2024 08:38
F1 Qualifying LIVE – Q2
Sainz was well wide there. There is a red flag with 6 minutes 44 seconds left in Q2. But somehow Sainz has restarted the engine and got his car going again.
There is no front wing however as he makes his way back around the track to the pits
Sonia Twigg20 April 2024 08:36
F1 Qualifying LIVE – Q2
Carlos Sainz has spun out! He was coming out of the final turn and this has been red-flagged.
Sainz is out of qualifying. He looks good, but just went too wide into the final corner and into the gravel.
Sonia Twigg20 April 2024 08:35
F1 Qualifying LIVE – Q2
Norris goes top, ahead of his teammate, but Verstappen has just overtaken everyone and is half a second clear of the British driver at the top of the standings.
Sonia Twigg20 April 2024 08:34
F1 Qualifying LIVE – Q2
No times as yet, but a lot of cars were stacked up trying to leave the pits. All the drivers will be on soft tyres after Ferrari’s experiment earlier did not deliver the hoped-for results.
Sonia Twigg20 April 2024 08:32
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
