F1 Chinese GP live commentary and updates - Sprint race

The formation lap is go! 

What today's sprint race will not feature though is Ferrari's rotating ring wing, despite it being used in Shanghai FP1. Here's why...

While Mercedes is 1-2, McLaren and Ferrari share the second and third rows but arguably a bigger storyline was Red Bull. Its world champion Max Verstappen could only take eighth, behind Pierre Gasly, with his team-mate Isack Hadjar in 10th. 

Here is the full starting grid for today's 19-lap race.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Marcel van Dorst / EYE4images / NurPhoto via Getty Images

But with a few sessions now done, how're you feeling about the new rules? To say they've divided opinion says the least...

A sprint race this early in the new regulations has been a big talking point up to now. So it'll be interesting to see how teams and drivers manage having just the one practice session before this weekend's races. 

But Mercedes is clearly managing just fine...

It was once again a Mercedes 1-2 in qualifying for today's sprint, so here is a reminder of what happened:

A good, early morning (or late night) to all, and welcome to Autosport and Motorsport as we follow the Chinese GP sprint race!