2011 Chinese Grand Prix The Chinese Grand Prix

Both Ferrari drivers head out for laps to the grid.

Here's a reminder of the championship tables going into the event: World Championship standings, round 2: Drivers: Constructors: 1. Sebastian Vettel 50 1. Red Bull/Renault 72 2. Jenson Button 26 2. McLaren/Mercedes 48 3. Lewis Hamilton 22 3. Ferrari 36 4. Mark Webber 22 4. Renault 30 5. Fernando Alonso 20 5. Toro Rosso/Ferrari 4 6. Felipe Massa 16 6. Sauber/Ferrari 4

Vettel

Hello everyone and welcome to AUTOSPORT Live for coverage of round three in the 2011 FIA Formula 1 world championship - the Chinese Grand Prix from the Shanghai International Circuit.

Sebastian Vettel grabbed the 18th pole position of his career with another sublime lap in qualifying yesterday and the championship leader will look to stave off the challenge from McLaren drivers Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton this afternoon to take a healthy points lead into the European swing next month.

It's not all plain sailing, however, for Red Bull Racing. Mark Webber starts today's 56-lap event from way down in 18th position and will have a lot of work to do just to score some decent points. Also in the midfield, Toro Rosso and Force India have got the better of Sauber this weekend, while Renault drivers Petrov and Heidfeld are somewhat out of position, raising the prospect of an almighty scrap for the lower end of the points.

The pitlane opened just a few seconds ago and drivers are beginning to make their way out onto the circuit to check over their cars, with the start less than half-an-hour away.