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Will weather play a part?
It has before so far this weekend. And there is a 10 per cent of rain for the main event - so unlikely, but you never know!
Hamilton in a relaxed mood
Mail Sport's Henry Clark is in Shanghai for the race and has been out on the grid ahead of the race. He said;
Problems for Alonso
Fernando Alonso's car is being repaired right before the start of this race after the floor was damaged by a stone.
Hopefully nothing too serious for the Aston Martin star!
Just over 10 minutes to go
We are close to the start of the Chinese Grand Prix and the drivers have gone to the front of the track to respect the Chinese national anthem and are now heading back to their cars.
What can Alonso do from third?
The Spaniard failed to finish yesterday's sprint after a crazy battle involving the two Ferrari drivers and he will be keen to get a good points haul today - and maybe even a podium.
He doesn't think his Aston Martin has the pace to beat the McLarens or Ferraris but he has proven many times in his career that he can outperform the level of his car.
Former drivers and sport stars in attendance
A host of former drivers are in attendance including Juan Pablo Montoya, one of the sport's most exciting drivers of the 2000s from his time with Williams and McLaren.
Also in attendance is NBA legend Yao Ming who met up with his Chinese compatriot Zhou Guanyu. Just a bit of a size difference!
One place where Verstappen has not won!
If Max Verstappen can win today it will be the 26th different race track that he has won at - which would move him five behind Lewis Hamilton's record of 31.
Today is the 106th Grand Prix since the last Chinese Grand Prix and if Verstappen can win it will be his 53rd triumph in that time - half of the events since the last race in the country.
Impressive given Mercedes dominated in 2019 and 2020, while he was locked up in a title battle with Hamilton in 2021.
Hamilton: 'It was entirely my fault'
Lewis Hamilton is almost as popular as Zhou Guanyu in China it looks from the ovation he received from the grandstands as he was interviewed.
He lauded the fans in attendance before admitting that his failure to get out of Q1 was his fault due to a lock-up at Turn 14.
Pit-lane open!
The pit-lane has been opened with just over 30 minutes to go until lights out.
Zhou Guanyu received a massive reaction from his home crowd as he took to the track. He starts 16th and will be hoping for some points.
One man who could be on the move?
Keep an eye on Charles Leclerc this afternoon.
He might have only qualified sixth, but he decided on a set-up to concentrate on the race, comprimising his speed in qualifying somewhat - how much, we will never know.
He told Sky F1;
First Chinese GP in FIVE years
The last time we had a race at the Shanghai International Circuit was on April 14, 2019 - Formula One's 1,000th race which was won by the then-dominant Lewis Hamilton.
Of course due to the Covid pandemic in the country, races at the track for the following four years were not held.
But they are back this weekend and the action has been excellent so far.
Can anyone stop Verstappen at the top this morning?
What the standings look like
Well after his excellent win yesterday, Verstappen has opened up a 15 point lead over Sergio Perez, with the two Ferraris not too far behind the Mexican driver.
Lewis Hamilton is still ninth despite his second-place finish but he has closed the gap on Fernando Alonso ahead of him.
Top ten in the standings
1. Max Verstappen - 85 points
2. Sergio Perez - 70 points
3. Charles Leclerc - 64 points
4. Carlos Sainz - 59 points
5. Lando Norris - 40 points
6. Oscar Piastri - 34 points
7. George Russell - 25 points
8. Fernando Alonso - 24 points
9. Lewis Hamilton - 17 points
10. Lance Stroll - 10 points
What happened to Lewis Hamilton in qualifying?
How can a driver finish second in the sprint and qualify 18th just hours later you might ask yourselves.
Well, the Brit, not for the first time, decided to experiment, with the hopes of getting Mercedes even closer to the top for today's race.
And safe to say it did not work for the seven-time world champion.
Click below to see what he had to say...
How they line up for today's race
Max Verstappen had to work his way to the top to win Saturday's sprint from Lewis Hamilton but today he has a clear track ahead of him and is favourite to win his fourth race in five.
Fernando Alonso's qualifying pace has been impressive but he has dropped back in the races so if Red Bull are to get a challenge then it might come in the form of the two McLarens or Ferraris - with the latter team having atleast one driver on the podium in every race this season.
Mercedes have it all to do with George Russell eighth and Lewis Hamilton 18th.
Good morning!
And welcome to Mail Sport's live blog for the Chinese Grand Prix!
And if anything's sprint race yesterday says about the main event today, we should hopefully be in for a cracker of a race this morning.
Max Verstappen is on pole from Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso, while watch out for Lewis Hamilton, who is out of position in 18th place - after he finished the sprint in second.
We will provide you all the build-up and live updates throughout the race.
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