Live Chinese Grand Prix: Follow all the F1 drama as it happens from Shanghai

By Philip Duncan Last updated at 9:58 AM on 17th April 2011

Sebastian Vettel arrives in China for round three of the Formula One championship as the man to beat. After romping to successive victories in Australia and in Malaysia, the reigning world champion is already 26 points clear of his nearest rival in the race for the 2011 drivers' title.
Hot on his heels are the British duo of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, who despite a torrid pre-season, have emerged as the team to rival Red Bull. But the question remains: can anyone stop Vettel?
As ever, I'd love for you to get involved in today's Shanghai shootout. You can do so by sending your correspondence to phil.duncan@dailymail.co.uk or alternately take to Twitter ending all your F1 related tweets with #DMF1. I'll play my part by getting the best views and predictions up on the site. I look forward to hearing from you..

Final Classification

1. Lewis Hamilton (3 stops)
2. Sebastian Vettel (2 stops)
3. Mark Webber (3 stops)
4. Jenson Button (3 stops)
5. Nico Rosberg (3 stops)
6. Felipe Massa (2 stops)
7. Fernando Alonso (2 stops)
8. Michael Schumacher (3 stops)
9. Vitaly Petrov (2 stops)
10. Kamui Kobayashi 2 stops)

09.55: A simply brilliant drive from Lewis today, and a special mention to Webber. To finish on the podium after starting in 18th is an incredible achievement. That's your lot from me. I'll next see you for round four in Turkey. Until then, stay with us for the fall out of today's dramatic race. Well done, Lewis.

09.45: 'That was amazing. Thank you.' Hamilton screams over the radio. What a brilliant drive from the Englishman. Here's Sportsmail's Simon Cass' verdict on the race: 'Vintage stuff from Hamilton and not too shabby from Webber either. Now this is what the new rules were supposed to do. Proper racing, reeling people in, different strategies. What a race, what a win for Lewis. He will be ecstatic after the misery of Malaysia. Sterling effort from Webber to race from 18th to third. Vettel will doubtless be asking his team why he wasn’t on a three-stop strategy like his team-mate. As for Button, he’ll be happy with the points but it must still go down as a bad day at the office.'

09.41: LEWIS HAMILTON WINS THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX!

Lap 56: And there it is. Webber marks an incredible comeback by passing Button for a place on the podium, after starting in eighteenth.

Lap 55: What an incredible race. So much action, and so many overtaking manoeuvres, as Jenson is warned 'Webber will attack you.'

Lap 54: Brilliant from Webber. he's up to fourth, after going banzai on the brakes, and sliding one up the inside of Rosberg. Will he catch Button, who isn't making any progress on Vettel.

Lap 52: And there it is. Hamilton takes the race-lead, Now can Button catch the Red Bull? He's just five seconds down. Meanwhile, Webber is up to P5 after passing Massa. Incredible stuff from the Aussie. Despite his poor start, he's only eight seconds down on the race leader.

Lap 51: Great work from Vettel. He's much slower than Hamilton, and without the use off KERS he parks it on the apex. There's no way round for Hamilton.

Lap 50: Button is up to P3 after easing past Massa, with Hamilton just SEVEN tenths behind Vettel. Meanwhile Perez is penalised for his ridiculous move on Sutil. A drive through beckons for the rookie.

Lap 49: Hamilton is just 1.9secs down on Vettel. Lewis can smell a race win here. 'In the words of Murray catching is one thing, and passing is something completely different. Come on Lewis,' says Robert via email. He's definitely in with a shout.

Lap 48: That's naughty from Perez - he literally barges Sutil off the road. Both limp back on to the track, but I won't be surprised if he gets a drive-through for that.

Lap 47: The lead is down to 3.3secs. Vettel posts his fastest lap of the race, but Hamilton blitzes it by half-a-second. Webber is flying . He's THREE seconds quicker than the battle for P3.

Lap 46: Button is past Rosberg, and Massa is up next. Meanwhile Hamilton took NINE tenths out of Vettel on that lap. The world champion is just 3.9secs ahead of the Briton. Can Lewis do it?

Lap 45: He's done it. Hamilton, whose tyres are six laps younger than Vettel is easily past Massa. The Red Bull is only five seconds up the road.

Lap 44: Contact between Heidfeld and Perez in the battle for P13. Perez is through, and Heidfeld waves his hand at the rookie.

Lap 43: Here's Sportsmail's Simon Cass: 'Two stops or three, that is the question. One team principal told me last night that two was the only way to go. Let’s find out whether he was right. Looks like it.'

Lap 42: And Hamilton's through. Rosberg leaves the door open into turn 6, and Hamilton's past. Will Button follow suit?

Lap 41: Rosberg is told he needs to conserve fuel, with the McLaren duo of Hamilton and Button all over his gearbox.

Standing his ground: Webber fights for position with Michael Schumacher

Lap 39: Race-leader Rosberg comes in for a fresh set of rubber, and exits just ahead of Hamilton. Lewis has a stab at the German, but Rosberg maintains the position. Vettel moves into the lead, with Hamilton in P2. Will they have to pit again?

Lap 38: Hamilton follows his team-mate into the pits, as Webber makes his way past Schumacher. Hamilton exits well ahead of his team-mate. This is anyone's race!

Lap 37: Jenson's in for his third pit-stop and exits down in P5, as Webber and Schumacher enjoy a ferocious battle for P6.

Lap 35: That's brilliant from Hamilton, but fair play to Jenson. Lewis gets a fantastic slipstream in the run down to Turn 1. Hamilton launches one up the inside and instead of turning in on his team-mate Button gives up the place. Hamilton up to P2.

Lap 34: Race-leader Massa pits for his second stop. He opts for the soft tyres. Endless action to keep on top of. I'll need a lie down after this one.

Lap 33: Massa now leads the grand prix, as Vettel stops for a second time. He's in P6. Hamilton is flying, but he's told to calm down - 'we've got a long way to go on these tyres,' the Briton is told.

Lap 32: Here's Sportsmail's Simon Cass on the drama in Shanghai: 'And then we have three examples of how easy it is, too easy, to pass when one car is on new rubber an the other is on old. Rosberg cruising past Massa and both Button and Hamilton zooming past Alonso. Hardly dramatic is it?'

In the lead: Button led the first phase of the race ahead of Hamilton and Vettel

Lap 31: Problem for Vettel. his team-radio isn't working. The German can hear his race engineer, but they can't hear him. Meanwhile, Hamilton creams Alonso. We're over half distance, and Vettel, Massa, Alonso, Di Resta, Sutil and Petrov have only stopped once.

Lap 30: And Button follows suit. The McLaren dives underneath Alonso with ease.

Lap 28: That's easy for Rosberg. The German, on fresh rubber, eases his way around the outside of Alonso for P3.

Lap 26: Schumacher comes in, as Vettel, Massa, and Alonso stay out on track. Rosberg is just 18 seconds behind Vettel.

Lap 25: And in they come... Rosberg and Hamilton stop for a second time. The former comes out ahead of the Di Resta-Sutil-Kobayashi scrap. Hamilton comes out behind Button. Oh, and a special mention to Jenson, who remembered that he drives for McLaren and not Red Bull by paying a visit to the right garage on his second stop. Ten points for Gryffindor!

Lap 24: That's a surprise: Button is in for a second pit-stop, which after just 24 laps, suggests he's on a three-stopper. Will those around him follow suit?

Lap 23: No KERS for now, Mark Webber is told over the team-radio. He's running in P11 just one second down on Kobayashi.

Lap 22: So are the Mercedes drivers three-stopping? Remember, both Schumacher and Rosberg pitted earlier than those around them. This is great to watch - double world champion Alonso is all over the back of seven-times champion Schumacher.

Slow start: Vettel was slow off the line

On the Button: Jenson wins the run down to Turn 1

Lap 21: Rosberg is very much holding his own. He's 4.4 seconds ahead of Vettel. Meanwhile, Mark Webber is up to P11, and he's lapping just a tenth slower than his team-mate.

Lap 19: UPDATE: Rosberg now leads the race and is 4.6secs ahead of Vettel. Button is 6secs down on the Mercedes man, with the Massa-Hamilton duo a further two seconds down. The top five are covered by just eight seconds. We've got a great race on our hands here. Can Rosberg hold on for a remarkable win? Let us know what you think...

Lap 17: It's also worked out for Michael Schumacher, who eases his way past Nick Heidfeld to move up to P6. he also leapfrogged Alonso in the first round of pit-stop.

Lap 16: Incredibly Nico Rosberg now leads the grand prix. The Mercedes man pitted two laps earlier than Button and Co, and it's worked out beautifully for the German.

Lap 15: What happened to Hamilton? He lost out to Felipe Massa before coming into the pits. He's now down in a net fourth. What a terrible run of laps for McLaren.

Lap 14: Bread and butter for Vettel. The reigning world champion cruises his way past Hamilton, but then he and Button come into the pits, and incredibly, Button dives into the Red Bull markings. The Red Bull mechanics leap out the way, but he loses at least three seconds, and Vettel makes his way past. Incredible. I've never seen that before.

Lap 13: Make that just 0.9secs... incredible stuff. Meanwhile, Schumacher is past Di Resta, who have now both been in to the pits.

Lap 12: Here's Sportsmail's Simon Cass reporting from Shanghai: 'Will we finally get to see Button and Hamilton have a proper on the track battle at the right end of the field? They haven't really done so since Turkey last year methinks. They claim to be good mates, lets put that to the test chaps.' Good point, Simon. The top three are now covered by just 1.6secs. Vettel is looking very racy now, with Button struggling for grip.

Leading the way: Button led the opening phase of the grand prix

Perfect start: Button and Hamilton leapfrog Vettel off the line

Lap 11: Webber and Schumacher come in for a fresh set of tyres. Webber, who'd just lost out to Barrichello to drop another place before he came into the pits, switches to the soft tyre.

Lap 10: The nightmare goes on for Alguersuari. He's limping around on three tyres, after the Toro Rosso mechanics failed to fit his right rear correctly in his pit-stop.

Lap 9: Hamilton is now just one second behind Button, with Vettel a further second down.

Lap 8: Make that 23 seconds down on Button, and incredibly rookie Sergio Perez has just made his way past Webber, who is now down to P16.

Lap 7: So, who will pit first? After qualifying ahead of his team-mate, Button will probably get first dibs over Lewis. Webber watch: The Aussie has made only three places, and is in P15, but already EIGHTEEN seconds down on Button.

Lap 5: Di Resta is complaining about a lack of rear grip. Meanwhile, Vettel is just two seconds down on Hamilton. Race-leader Button is 1.4 secs ahead of his team-mate.

Lap 4: Rosberg in P4 has the Ferrari duo of Massa and Alonso all over the back of his Mercedes. Di Resta in P7 is being trailed by team-mate Sutil, and Schumacher. But he's holding his own for now.

Lap 3: Disappointing start for Jamie Alguersuari. He's down to P10 after starting in seventh. And we've just seen the replay of the start. Vettel's KERS WAS working. It was just a poor, poor start from the German.

Lap 2: 'Let's put a gap between us and the rest of the field before DRS cuts in,' race-leader Button is told over the team-radio. He's over one second ahead of Hamilton, and 2.2secs ahead of Vettel. Was the reigning world champion's KERS working off the line? He got absolutely mugged by the McLarens there. From a neutrals perspective, that's exactly what we needed.

Lap 1: Incredible stuff. Jenson Button AND Lewis Hamilton get the jump on Sebastian Vettel off the line, and the German has to fend off unwanted attention from countryman Nico Rosberg. For the second race in succession, Felipe Massa gets the jump on team-mate Fernando Alonso, and Paul Di Resta is up to P7. Michael Schumacher in P9 - a great start from the seven-times champion. He's up five places. Breathless first lap.

08.00: Right, we're on the parade lap. And Hamilton appears to have got away without any problems. Stay tuned for what promises to be a belting afternoon in Shanghai. And remember to get involved on Twitter.

07.55: It sounds as though Lewis is good to go for the start. All the bodywork is back on the Briton's McLaren. We'll keep tabs on that. With five minutes to go, here's a run down on the top 10: Vettel, Button, Hamilton, Rosberg, Alonso, Massa, Alguersuari, Di Resta, Buemi, Petrov

07.50: Here's McLaren's Managing Director Jonathan Neale on Hamilton's problem: 'The only conclusion is we've flooded the engine - I'm not sure how. We've fixed it, but now we just have to make sure we get everything back on the car. Hardly the ideal prep for Lewis.

07.44: With 30 seconds to go before the pit-lane closes Hamilton makes his way out on to the track. I'll keep you posted on that one. Meanwhile, here's a surprisingly jovial Mark Webber: 'We're going to be on the back foot for the first part of the grand prix, but we'll try and get something out of it. I said to the boys I might need a pair of binoculars to see the lights today. It's been a while. 'We are going to try to use KERS.'

07.42: Problems for Hamilton already. The Briton is still in the garage with a fuel leak. A fuel line appears to have come loose, with McLaren mechanics at the back of Lewis' car wielding extinguishers. They've got two minutes to get him out before the pit-lane closes. Terrible start for Lewis... but a great prediction from Simon (see 07.25)

07.32: But Sportsmail's Simon Cass isn't singing from the same hymn sheet. 'I'm afraid I can't agree with my colleague Phil Duncan's opinion of the race in Malaysia. I thought the number of pit stops and the unpredictability of the tyres turned matters into a complicated mess. Yes, there may have been plenty of overtaking moves but it was really down to serious driving skill, just the fact one driver's tyres were done and another was on fresh rubber. I like my overtaking moves a bit more genuine and meaningful.' We'll agree to disagree then, Simon.

07.30: Last time out in Malaysia we saw almost 60 pit-stops - a matter which drew wide criticism from some sections of the media... I however, disagreed. You can read my latest blog here.

A Brit of all right: Chinese models stand in line, as Button and Hamilton arrive at the track on Sunday morning

07.25: So can anyone stop Vettel? Let's hear your opinions by following the instructions above. Over in Shanghai, Sportsmail's chief Motor Racing correspondent, Simon Cass, can't see anything other than a hat-trick of wins for Vettel: 'In the sweep stake amongst the British press pack I have gone for a one, two, three of Vettel, Alonso, Button. I just have a funny feeling this is going to be another tough afternoon for Hamilton but I hope I'm wrong. At least Webber's rotten luck hasn't rubbed off on Hamilton yet...' So, do you agree with Simon? For what it's worth, I think Button could repeat his success from last year. Bold from me?

07.20: But while Vettel continues to enjoy the best period of hid Formula One career, it's not all rosy at Red Bull. The young German's team-mate, Mark Webber, endured a torrid afternoon in Shanghai yesterday. An over-confident call to stay on the hard tyre in Q1 cost the Aussie, and he'll start today's race from a dismal 18th. You have to go back to 2009, to recall the last time Red Bull didn't have both cars in the top 10.

07.15: Good morning one and all, and welcome to Sportsmail's coverage of the Chinese Grand Prix.

And guess who starts today's race from the front of the pack? Reigning world champion, and winner of the first two races of the season, Sebastian Vettel, continued his remarkable run of form on Saturday, securing his third pole position in as many races with a truly scintillating lap.

The 23-year-old German was a huge seven tenths faster than any of his rivals yesterday. And he'll start today's grand prix ahead of the the McLaren duo of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.