2012 Chinese Grand Prix The Chinese Grand Prix

China qualifying

Hello everyone and welcome to AUTOSPORT Live for coverage of round three of the 2012 FIA Formula 1 world championship - the Chinese Grand Prix from Shanghai.

Nico Rosberg claimed his maiden pole position at the 111th attempt and he leads the first all-Mercedes front row since September 1957, with Michael Schumacher benefiting from Lewis Hamilton's five-place gearbox penalty to claim second spot.

There will be further excitement on row two as Kamui Kobayashi starts a sensational third and Kimi Raikkonen is fourth, highlighting the progress of the Lotus outfit.

As the pecking order was shuffled, some big names lost out. Jenson Button and Mark Webber find themselves on row three with Hamilton seventh after that penalty. Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and Felipe Massa have a lot of work to do this afternoon and will find themselves racing behind the leaders early on.

Rosberg flies to maiden F1 pole in China

Here's how the standings look after the first two rounds: World Championship standings, round 2: Drivers: Constructors: 1. Alonso 35 1. McLaren-Mercedes 55 2. Hamilton 30 2. Red Bull-Renault 42 3. Button 25 3. Ferrari 35 4. Webber 24 4. Sauber-Ferrari 30 5. Perez 22 5. Lotus-Renault 16 6. Vettel 18 6. Force India-Mercedes 9 7. Raikkonen 16 7. Williams-Renault 8 8. Senna 8 8. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 6

This morning dawned dry and bright with some sunshine, following rain on Saturday evening. But, in the last hour, clouds have rolled in again from the west and it will remain overcast throughout the race.

A light easterly breeze will result in similar track conditions to yesterday's qualifying session, with a maximum air temperature of 19 degrees Celsius.

Drivers having a final chat with their engineers ahead of what is all set to be a challenging afternoon, particularly on tyre strategy.

Here's how the grid will line up this afternoon: Pos Driver Team/Car 1. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 2. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 3. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 4. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 5. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 6. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 7. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes * 8. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 9. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 10. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 11. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 12. Felipe Massa Ferrari 13. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 14. Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 15. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 16. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 17. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 18. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 19. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 20. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 21. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 22. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 23. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth Pit Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari ** * Five-place penalty for gearbox change * Pitlane start due to changes in parc ferme

Rosberg starts from his first career pole position but questions remain over Mercedes' race pace, particularly with today's cool track.

Motor racing enthusiasts love to debate and discuss the action on track, and the live forum at the bottom of the screen is your chance to let everyone know your thoughts on events as they unfold at the circuit.

• Where will Sebastian Vettel finish this afternoon? He starts the race from 11th

• Will today's track conditions help the McLaren drivers move towards the front?

• Who will win the ninth Chinese Grand Prix?

Tell the world what you think.

Click the SHOW LIVE FORUM link in the red bar at the bottom of your browser window if you'd like to join the debate.

Drivers have struggled to get the best from Pirelli's tyres in cooler conditions here, so today's overcast sky adds a significant factor.

There are five minutes remaining until the start of the formation lap in China.

DRS aided much of the overtaking here last year and the wing system is again available down the long back straight.

A packed crowd is on hand to witness what should be a great race this afternoon, as Sebastian Vettel stares straight ahead, contemplating a busy start.

Kobayashi readies himself in a sensational third on the grid, with the Sauber proving very strong down the straight here.

All is routine around the car of Michael Schumacher, as he nods to confirm some final instructions from his race engineer.

The engines fire with a minute to the formation lap.

Vettel has an open choice of rubber from 11th and has opted for the softer Pirelli.

Massa is the first man on harder tyres, starting 12th.

The formation lap begins and Rosberg leads the cars away with a clear track in front of him for the first time.

The 23 cars on the grid all get away without problem, as Toro Rosso prepares Vergne from the end of the pitlane.

Senna and the pair of Toro Rossos are also starting on the medium compound, with the rest of the pack starting on the softer Pirelli.

Rosberg leads the pack round the back of the circuit, before heading down towards the second snail at Turns 12 and 13.

Onto the straight comes the two Mercedes with Kobayashi, Raikkonen and the rest behind them.

Rosberg enters the final corner and makes his way towards the starting grid.

Rosberg is touring very slowly towards his pole position grid slot and the field is bunched up well.

The grid is ready and we await the lights for 56 laps of action this afternoon ...

Lap 1: The five red lights go out and we are racing in China!

Lap 1: Rosberg gets a brilliant start and easily leads into Turn 1 with Schumacher second and Button gets a great getaway into third!

Lap 1: Into the twisting middle part of the lap and it is Rosberg from Schumacher and a fast-starting Button.

Lap 1: Hamilton dives down the inside of Kobayashi at Turn 6 and is now following chasing down fourth-place man Raikkonen.

Lap 2: Vettel made a terrible start and is way down in 15th position as the first lap nears completion.

Lap 2: Past the huge main grandstand for the first time, Rosberg leads from Schumacher, Button, Raikkonen, Hamilton, Perez, Kobayashi and Alonso.

Lap 2: Vettel passes Maldonado round the outside of Turn 1 and takes 14th place from the Williams driver.

Lap 2: Race control report a slippery surface in the final part of the lap.

Lap 2: Behind the Sauber pair, Alonso is eighth with Webber ninth, Massa up well into 10th, Grosjean 11th and Senna in 12th spot.

Lap 3: Replays of the show a great launch from Rosberg to lead comfortably from pole, with Schumacher easily able to slot in second.

Lap 3: Kobayashi was slow away from third and the McLarens were the big winners as Button and Hamilton hugged the inside line at Turn 1.

Lap 3: Di Resta is 13th for Force India and now under attack from Vettel, with Maldonado 15th and Kovalainen up to 16th place ahead of Hulkenberg.

Lap 3: Vergne did get away from the end of the pitlane and has already passed the HRT pair. He runs 22nd at the moment.

Lap 3: The DRS is now available, detected at Turn 12 and opening the wing all the way down the long straight for a move into the Turn 14 hairpin.

Lap 4: Rosberg has pulled over a second clear of Schumacher, with the pair also pulling away from Button at the moment.

Lap 4: Raikkonen, Hamilton and Kobayashi are right with Button and all in DRS range.