How Chinese GP qualifying unfolded

1. Hamilton out of qualifying after technical problem - will start last with penalty
2. Rosberg on pole, Ricciardo 2nd, Raikkonen 3rd, Vettel 4th
3. Hulkenberg loses wheel out on track
4. Wehrlein crashes after spinning on wet patch - causing delay

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Well that was worth getting up early for, wasn't it? 

Lewis Hamilton to fight from the back, Ferrari primed to pounce and Nico Rosberg looking to maintain his fine start to the season - Sunday's race has all the ingredients to serve up a cracker.

We'll be back with build-up to the race bright and early at 05:30 BST tomorrow. See you then!

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Dom Wills: second on the grid! With a more competitive engine they will be all over Mercedes   

Rachel T: Fantastic job @danielricciardo - the Honey Badger Haircut worked! 

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That, incidentally, was also Mercedes' first pole since the 1955 Italian Grand Prix with Juan Manuel Fangio.  

There's been a few more since then...

Shanghai flashback

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Nico Rosberg has only ever started on pole once before in China. That was in 2012, and he went on to win the race. He absolutely smashed that race as well, finishing over 20 seconds ahead of Jenson Button.

McLaren

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It would take an almighty effort for Lewis Hamilton to go and win the race tomorrow.

It is four years since a driver who failed to win any of the first three races went on to win the title.

Could this be Nico Rosberg's year?

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Chris Wells: In 2015 Rosberg many technical issues, in '16 they swap mechanics teams and now Hamiltons car is plagued. Conincidence?  

Kieran B: Another boring race beckons....Ros will disappear again. Zzzzzzzzzz  

Ready for the fight

Mercedes

You know this chap will have something special up his sleeve tomorrow.

He fought from a pit lane start to finish third at the 2014 Hungarian Grand Prix, while in the 2012 Spanish Grand Prix he finished eighth after starting at the back of the grid.

'Things could get interesting'

Sebastian Vettel's decision to go for one flying lap backfired. 

The four-time world champion employed the same tactic to secure pole position at the 2009 Chinese Grand Prix - a race he went on to win.

"We saved some tyres for tomorrow," said Vettel. "Nico starts on a different compound so it will be interesting." 

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Martin Wingate: The #ferrari challenge is a myth created by the media. Merc still way ahead  

Nikey Radio: yup, once again Rosberg has pole position. Looks like its his year. Shame Hamilton couldn't even get out never mind challenge him.

So near, but so far

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The wait goes on for Kimi Raikkonen.

He was so close to a first Chinese Grand Prix pole position and a first pole at any race since the 2008 French GP.

Eight years ago. Where does the time go?

'A shame'

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Kimi Raikkonen, who will start from P3: "I was quite a bit up in the last lap and ran wide on the hairpin and lost time. 

"It's a shame, we had a chance to be top but that's how it goes and we will try to make the best of it tomorrow."

'Pretty awesome'

AP

Daniel Ricciardo, who will start P2: "Q3 we found a bit more speed. Not sure where that came from. Second - pretty awesome. We didn't expect this."

'A good weekend'

F1.com

Nico Rosberg, who secured his first pole position of the season: "The whole weekend has gone well, the car was handling well so to get the lap done I am happy. 

"Not ecstatic because Lewis had bad luck so the fight didn't go on but I am pleased."

Right, time to hear from the top three.

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Go-faster hair

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A stonking lap from Daniel Ricciardo, who nicked second from the Ferraris after both Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen fluffed it at Turn 14. 

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner's verdict? "It must be that new go faster hair!"

Chinese GP qualifying result

11) Massa 12) Alonso 13) Button 14) Grosjean 15) Ericsson 16) Nasr 17) Magnussen 18) Gutierrez 19) Palmer 20) Haryanto 21) Wehrlein 22) Hamilton