Formula 1 - Chinese Grand Prix qualifying: Star

The garages have been hard at work making tweaks before qualifying before parc ferme, with Ferrari and McLaren in particular changing things up before their drivers go to grid.

For all of Alonso's protestations, it's he who picks up the penalty.

An FIA statement says: 'The Stewards heard from the driver of Car ​14 (Fernando Alonso), the driver of Car 55 (Carlos Sainz), team representatives and reviewed positioning/marshalling system data, video and in-car video evidence and determined that Car 14 caused a collision with Car 55 at Turn 9.

'The result of the collision was that Car 55 was damaged and that Car 14 had a puncture and retired before the end of the sprint session.

'As per the guidelines on driving standards, which was agreed with the teams, an infringement of this nature required that a baseline penalty of 10 seconds was to be added to the time of a car that caused a collision.

'Article 54.3 of the Sporting Regulations states if the 10 second penalty is imposed after the end of a sprint session, then 10 seconds will be added to the elapsed time of the driver concerned.

'We accordingly added 10 seconds to the elapsed time of Car 14.

'As an aside to the FIA, we note that the language in the regulations as to when a car has retired and the resultant consequences on penalties that may be imposed or served, especially when that car is otherwise classified, is somewhat unclear and we would recommend that the FIA considers making the necessary amendments to bring greater clarity to this issue.'

This is an almost entirely meaningless penalty, as the time penalty is with regards to the sprint, which he finished last in.

But Alonso does also pick up three penalty points, which could yet pinch...

Not content with battling his compatriot, Sainz also scrapped with his team-mate Charles Leclerc - much to the frustration of the Monegasque national after the checkered flag.

Things could be beginning to tell at Ferrari. With an exciting, competitive car, the gloves might come well and truly off between the two drivers as Sainz polishes his proverbial shop window with the aim of picking up a seat next season.

The Spaniard has certainly been looking the bigger star in the car, so far. Despite having missed a race after falling ill with appendicitis, he is just five points behind Leclerc in the standing.

The Chinese Grand Prix may have slipped off the schedule for five years, but it comes back with a bang this weekend thanks to an all-new entrant.

Zhou Guanyu is the first-ever Chinese driver to take to the Shanghai International Circuit and feel the support of a home crowd - and interest has been at a fever pitch since the race returned to the calendar.

According to Zhou, such was the demand for tickets that the website crashed within minutes of going live with spots. The Kick Sauber driver has found scant points this season, but can the backing from the stand act as his... fifth wheel?

Hardy veteran Fernando Alonso and young upstart Carlos Sainz tangled in the sprint race, after the latter's feisty overtake in lap 16.

After a tussle, there was a coming together that allowed both cars to be left in Perez's dust, and Alonso was keen to pass the buck after the race at the 'lack of space' he was given by the soon-to-be-former Ferrari man.

Both men have been summoned to the stewards in the aftermath - watch this space.

... with just under 40 minutes to go until we're back in action in Shanghai.

But he does warn that 'this afternoon will be a lot harder'.

After recording a highest qualifying finish of seventh this season, you can understand why he might want to manage expectations.

.... and his report from this morning's sprint race is in. Max Verstappen may have edged his longstanding rival, but this early session could suggest Lewis Hamilton will have reasons to be cheerful behind the wheel of a Mercedes before long.

You can read his report in full below.

Hello and welcome to Mail Sport's live coverage of this morning's qualifying session - with the fifth race of the season, the Chinese Grand Prix, taking place tomorrow.

After an early sprint race, we're all tee'd up to bring you all the latest build-up and more ahead of our 8am start time.

Qualifying will last around about an hour - potential for small fires not withstanding - so we should know our order for tomorrow's grid by 9am BST.