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Formula 1 Chinese GP

Chinese GP final practice and qualifying

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Here's our full report of Ferrari's lockout of Chinese GP qualifying. Thanks for joining us. See you again tomorrow for race day.

Chinese GP qualifying: Vettel denies Ferrari partner Raikkonen pole

Sebastian Vettel pipped Ferrari Formula 1 team-mate Kimi Raikkonen to pole position for the Chinese Grand prix by less than a tenth of a second

Chinese GP qualifying: Vettel denies Ferrari partner Raikkonen pole
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Bottas describes qualifying as "straightforward" for Mercedes but said they couldn't achieve the same grip levels as Ferrari despite gaining understanding of the tyres as the session wore on.
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Vettel says he was "a bit beaten up" after the first Q3 runs, losing the rear in a couple of places, but he turned it around when it mattered.
Radio Comms
Renault impressed with Hulkenberg's effort in seventh, as Ricciardo thanks his mechanics for getting him out for this session.
Radio Comms
"That was magic man!" exclaims Perez after putting Force India eighth.
Vettel climbs from his car and gives his patented single-finger salute to the crowd on the main straight.
Information
Rest of the grid: 11 Magnussen; 12 Ocon; 13 Alonso; 14 Vandoorne; 15 Hartley; 16 Sirotkin; 17 Gasly; 18 Stroll; 19 Leclerc; 20 Ericsson
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Q3 result: 1 Vettel; 2 Raikkonen +0.087s; 3 Bottas +0.530s; 4 Hamilton +0.580s; 5 Verstappen +0.701s; 6 Ricciardo +0.853s; 7 Hulkenberg; 8 Perez; 9 Sainz; 10 Grosjean
The Red Bulls stay fifth and sixth behind the Mercedes, Verstappen ahead.
Stopwatch
Vettel beats Raikkonen by 0.087s to snatch pole!
Raikkonen slightly improves his time and is now 0.179s clear of Vettel - who's approaching the end of his lap.
Hamilton abandons his lap - he'll start no higher than fourth!
Checkered flag
Chequered flag falls. That's the end of qualifying in China.
Bottas improves but is still third behind the Ferraris.
Stopwatch
Raikkonen blasts in with a first sector best 0.3s up on what the Mercedes were doing and just ahead of Vettel too.
Stopwatch
Bottas does the fastest middle sector of anyone so far, though...
Bottas and Hamilton begin their flying laps, but the first sectors aren't times that are going to worry Ferrari.
Here we go. Last chance to get it done in the pole shooutout.
Replays show Vettel picking up some oversteer on that lap, so more time in him for sure.
Information
Order so far: 1 Raikkonen; 2 Vettel +0.161s; 3 Bottas +0.425s; 4 Hamilton +0.475s; 5 Verstappen +0.639s; 6 Ricciardo +0.748s; 7 Hulkenberg; 8 Grosjean; 9 Sainz; 10 Perez (no time yet)
Hamilton's first run puts him only fourth, nearly half a second off the pace and half a tenth down on Bottas.
Ricciardo's first effort puts him third, then Bottas beats him.
Vettel can only take second, 0.161s off Raikkonen.
Stopwatch
Raikkonen goes fastest for now by 1.4s over Hulkenberg.
Raikkonen is the man turning the timing screen purple so far.
Stopwatch
Hulkenberg is first on the board with a 1m32.602s, Grosjean slots in a quarter of a second slower.

By: Geoff Creighton

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