F1 Chinese Grand Prix qualifying gets underway

Qualifying for this season’s Formula One Chinese Grand Prix took place Saturday afternoon at the Shanghai International Circuit.

Mercedes driver and defending champion Lewis Hamilton is one of the favorites to win the third race of the new F1 season and was seeking to claim the pole in this race for the seventh time.

Hamilton’s biggest rival will likely be Sebastian Vettel, and the German four-time world champion turned in the fastest time in the first qualifying session with a lap time of one minute 32.171 seconds.

Sparks fly behind Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain, driving the (44) Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team Mercedes WO9 during practice. /VCG Photo

Vettel’s Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen is one of the most popular drivers among Chinese fans, and the Finn laid down the second fastest time at 1:32.474.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen struggled in the first qualifying session, and came in almost a full second behind Vettel.

Hamilton was also trying to get comfortable on the circuit, as his best lap time was 1:33.334.

After Friday’s two practice sessions, the Briton said “Ferrari were quick and Red Bull looked really fast on the long run. It's good to see all the times so close, but it means that we really need to bring our ‘A’ game. We need everyone in the team to be on it throughout the weekend because it is a joint effort.”

(CGTN)