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F1 Chinese GP Live Commentary and Updates – Race
Minute-by-minute updates for the 2024 Formula 1 Chinese Grand Prix.
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After five years away, F1 has returned to Shanghai and with it the first sprint race format of the 2024 season.
Following Max Verstappen’s Saturday double of the sprint race win and pole position for the grand prix, can anyone catch him and Red Bull?
The Chinese GP starts at 8am BST (3pm local time).
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Green flag
At the exit of Turn 14, smart as Norris was mid-corner, so off we go.
The safety car scampers clear to allow Verstappen to control the pace at the front for this restart. When will he bolt clear?
Verstappen vs Norris vs Leclerc vs Perez at the front for this restart. Tasty.
Pit stop
Sargeant makes his stop and falls to 17th, just behind team-mate Albon.
An incident behind the safety car including the American and Hulkenberg has been noted by race control.
An incident behind the safety car including the American and Hulkenberg has been noted by race control.
Pit stop
Piastri pits, still under the safety car, but his late stop has dropped him from fifth to eighth but he now has fresh hards and doesn't need to stop again.
So, Verstappen leads from Norris, Leclerc, Perez, Piastri, Sainz and Alonso - with the Spaniard on fresh softs.
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Hamilton team radio: "The car is sliding around everywhere, as if something is broken."
Pretty much everyone is pitting down the field, Sargeant hasn't though and now sits 11th.
Ricciardo is up to ninth, behind Russell and Alonso.
Ricciardo is up to ninth, behind Russell and Alonso.
Well, this safety car has spiced up a race that was threatening to fizzle out.
Pit stop
This full safety car has prompted both Red Bulls to pit again to take on their other set of fresh hards. This has destroyed Verstappen's healthy lead but he's still in first place, but Perez has dropped to fourth.
Safety car
The full safety car is now called for as the marshals struggle to move the stricken Sauber.
Hamilton just about beat Gasly out of the pits but they were virtually side-by-side on exit.
Pit stop
Norris is saved by this extended VSC, as he makes it into the pits a lap later so profits in the same way. The McLaren driver takes on fresh hards and comes out in third.
Pit stop
Leclerc takes on fresh hards with that cheap pitstop, saving him about eight or nine seconds compared to a green flag pitstop, and he comes out in fifth.
Stroll has been able to make a cheap stop, as well as Hamilton. Hard tyres for both.
That Virtual Safety Car came out moments after Norris passed the pitlane, while Leclerc is able to get into the pits as he was approaching the corner. That's huge.
Safety car
Virtual safety car is deployed.
Sainz tries to get past Stroll into Turn 5 but a huge lock-up allows the Aston Martin back through on exit.
Yellow flag
Bottas has gone straight on at the T11 chicane and says his engine has gone. Nightmare for the Finn who was battling for a point.
Norris and Leclerc are targeting a one-stop as they pound around on the medium tyres they started on.
Ricciardo's fresh tyres are proving a wonderful asset. He has already moved back to 15th and now he pounces on team-mate Tsunoda. Hamilton's next up the road.
Verstappen is incentivised to overtake Norris because that gives him the lead back. He does so at Turn 14 and off he goes again to another likely win.
Those who have pitted from the front are making progress, including Piastri, who moves past Stroll for P7 into the hairpin.
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"Leclerc and Sainz are incentivised to go long. Leclerc might even try the one stop," Norris is told over team radio. Love the use of incentivise. I'm incentivised to finish work on time today to enjoy the sunshine here.
Pit stop
Magnussen finally makes his first stop and falls to the back of the pack. That's Hamilton up to 13th.
Pit stop
Perez gets by Sainz on the exit of Turn 14 but the Ferrari driver pits anyway, swapping mediums for fresh hards, and comes out in 10th just ahead of Bottas.
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Leclerc is asked about going for Plan D and replies "if you are happy with this pace, yes". I told you they had all the plans.
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Hamilton: "I can't even catch him mate, this car is so slow."
'Him' is Ocon, the Alpine on the hard tyres. P2 in the sprint feels an age away.
'Him' is Ocon, the Alpine on the hard tyres. P2 in the sprint feels an age away.
Pit stop
Piastri pits from fourth at the end of lap 16, ditching his mediums for another set of mediums, and he comes out in ninth behind Stroll.
And Verstappen takes second off Leclerc at Turn 6 on the 16th lap. Leclerc didn't fight that one knowing his race isn't with the Red Bulls.
Tsunoda, on the other hand, was 19th but now sits 15th after his undercut.
A really interesting strategic look to this race. Ricciardo has just pitted and fallen to 18th having run long, but will now reap the rewards of fresher tyres on this stint.
Coupled with that, Verstappen has overtaken Piastri and is now hunting down Leclerc for second.
Piastri is really struggling on his aging medium tyres compared to team-mate Norris, as the pace difference between the pair is 1.5s. The Australian is still really weak managing pace and tyre life at the end of the stint against his team-mate.
A second look at Gasly's pitstop shows the rear right tyre wasn't secured properly and, when released, it came off and knocked a mechanic over. Scary stuff, but no injuries to report.
To give an idea of Alonso's time loss so far, with only Ricciardo between him and Perez, the Spaniard is eight seconds down on the Red Bull.
Pit stop
They are just showing off now! Red Bull double stacks Verstappen and Perez at the end of lap 13 and pulls it off with ease. Both drivers switch to fresh hards, Verstappen is fourth and Perez in sixth.
It looks like it'll be Norris vs Leclerc for the final podium place behind the dominant Red Bull pair. Norris has a 6.6s gap over the Ferrari at the moment with both tyres due to pit soon.
Hamilton stalks Tsunoda and pounces into Turn 1 around the outside. Wonderful stuff - that's P15 as Sargeant pits for Williams.
Pit stop
Gasly has also pitted but it's a disastrous pitstop with an issue at the back. The Alpine drops to the back.
By: Autosport Staff
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