15:00: The cars leave the grid on the formation lap. All 21 have got away cleanly as Webber waits at the end of the pit lane. Hamilton told to work his rear brakes on his way back to the grid to build up temperature. Vettel is told all systems are good on his RB9 and to build temperature in the rear tyres out of the final corner. Hamilton told it will be a long wait on the grid as the cars line up.

14:59: Medium tyres for Button, Vettel, Hulkenberg, di Resta, Perez and Bottas. Everyone else is on softs for the start.

14:57: One key battle will be between Vettel and Button. Button is also on mediums and starting ahead of the Red Bull but is in a much slower car. If he can hold Vettel up it will significantly reduce Vettel's chances of victory.

14:55: So our first big question is the order into turn one here. It's a unique first corner on the F1 calender, turning 270 degrees in a tightening radius. Then it will all be about preserving the soft tyres at the front. Some people are predicting a pit stop as early as lap four!

14:52: The grid is now clearing of all the hangers on. Less than ten minutes to go.

14:51: Mark Webber is limbering up and climbing into his Red Bull in the garage. Watching him come through the field should be a real treat today.

14:49: One man I haven't mentioned yet is Fernando Alonso. He starts from third and usually makes at least one position at the start. The Ferrari's pace on the medium tyres looked very strong on Friday so he is definitely a contender. I'll also say at this point that he was my tip for the win ahead of the GP weekend.

14:48: Now Bernie is having a word with Adrian Newey and getting a smile out of the Red Bull chief technical officer - the old charmer.

14:47: Paul di Resta confirms the car is fine for the start of the race but it was a bit of a scare to find his mechanics working away when he arrived in the garage ahead of the race.

14:45: Interesting comments from Bernie Ecclestone on the grid talking to Sky. He says we will have more tyres for practice from the Spanish Grand Prix onwards which should mean we won't have those long periods of inaction on Friday mornings. Good news! ... but not yet confirmed by Pirelli.

14:43: Of course, we can't rule out Lewis Hamilton on the front of the grid. The Mercedes has looked like one of the fastest cars on both soft and medium tyres but the question is how long they will last.

14:41: Pirelli is expecting three stops from most cars but thinks some - read Lotus - can make it on a two stop. That could mean that Kimi Raikkonen, starting second, is one of the favourites for the win.

14:40: Vettel, starting ninth today, says there is "always a chance to win". He will be on medium tyres at the start so it will be crucial for him to make the most of the cars ahead of him ducking into the pits when the softs start to lose performance with degradation.

14:38: The other news from this morning is that Mark Webber, as expected, will start from the pit lane. Red Bull have changed the gear ratios, gearbox and wing settings on his car to tailor it for overtaking. The hope is that he can run through the order in the same way Sebastian Vettel did in Abu Dhabi last year.

14:36: A bit of a scare for Force India in the last hour or so with a fuel leak on Paul di Resta's car but it looks like he will make the start of the race.

14:30: Welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the Chinese Grand Prix. The cars are currently heading for a few sighter laps on their way to the grid ahead of what should be a thrilling race.

Lap 1

Raikkonen loses places at the start to the two Ferraris as Hamilton leads the pack away.

Alonso is second ahead of Massa, Raikkonen, Rosberg, Grosjean, Ricciardo, Button and Vettel.

Alonso is on the tail of Hamilton into turn 14 but not close enough to pass.

Sutil runs di Resta wide in the penultimate corner.

Lap 2

Webber pits for medium tyres from the start. He's got the soft out of the way now, so his race really starts now. Let's see what he can do.

Di Resta is still in the wars as he nearly bangs wheels with Perez for 13th. He will not be happy after that near contact with Sutil.

Massa has a look at Alonso in turn 14, but doesn't dare stick his nose up the inside.

Lap 3

Hamilton leads Alonso by 0.8s after the first lap. Massa is 0.4s off his team-mate and 0.6s ahead of Raikkonen.

Alonso may be preserving his tyres knowing he has Massa as a rear gunner. DRS active on this lap.

Massa uses DRS and again looks at the inside of turn 14 but again though better of it.

Lap 4

Alonso uses DRS to close on Hamilton on the pit straight and is now right on the gearbox of the Mercedes.

Will we see pit stops this lap?

A replay of the start shows just how bad Raikkonen's start was from the front row. Button got a great start but had to hold position in the end.

Lap 5

Hulkenberg gets ahead of Vettel and Ricciardo in the DRS zone .

Alonso and Massa pass Hamilton for the lead in the pit straight DRS zone. Great racing from the Ferrari pair as Raikkonen now attacks the Mercedes.

Raikkonen needs to get past to keep the pressure on the Ferraris as Hamilton appears to be struggling with his tyres.

The order now: Alonso, Massa, Hamilton, Raikkonen.

Vettel passes Rosberg as the medium tyres start to come into their own.

Both Mercedes pit and just about get both cars out quickly. Impressive stuff.

Sutil pits with a broken rear wing and his brakes catch fire. Looks like game over for him.

Lap 6

Gutierrez is the culprit. He locked up his front tyres trying to pass Perez and clouted the Force India.

Lap 7

Alonso pits as does Raikkonen. Slick stop for Ferrari, but a bit slow for Raikkonen who only just comes out ahead of Webber. Webber is in this race!

Massa leads but will pit at the end of this lap.

Just to confirm, Alonso came out ahead of Hamilton with Raikkonen rejoining behind the Mercedes.

Lap 8

Massa pits and Hulkenberg now leads on his medium tyres from Vettel and Button.

Massa has lost out massively with that pit stop as he comes out behind Webber. Staying out on the softs cost him a lot of time there.

Massa attacks Webber into the hairpin but can't find a way past.

Lap 9

Vettel has been on the radio saying Hulkenberg was using DRS under the yellow flags. That will be a drive-through if he did. Hulkenberg currently leads Vettel by 1.0s.

Alonso is now up to sixth with di Resta and Perez ahead of him.

Lap 10

Vettel is closer on this lap with the gap down to 0.6s. This could be interesting. The Sauber looks quick so it won't be easy for Vettel, but he will have the DRS advantage on the kilometre long straight at the back of the circuit.

It's not enough though - Red Bull is really lacking straight-line speed here even with DRS.

Massa passes Webber with DRS.

Lap 11

Hulkenberg leads Vettel by 0.7s now as they cross the line. The Red Bull closes in on him in the twisty sector two but can't cope on the straights.

Lap 12

Alonso is really closing on di Resta now as he makes use of his Ferrari's superior pace and fresher medium tyres. He's currently 10.3s off Hulkenberg at the front and closing.

The top five have not pitted yet and are all on older medium tyres. They also all have to use the soft tyre still so don't read too much into the order at the moment.

Lap 13

Alonso passes di Resta for fifth and now Perez is next.

Hulkenberg is a second clear of Vettel and definitely slowing the Red Bull. Vettel reckons he could be going 0.5s if he gets past.

Perez looks like he will put up a fight with Alonso but I don't expect him to hold him off for long...

Lap 14

... and he doesn't as Alonso passes the McLaren on the pit straight. Hamilton is bottled up behind di Resta still and struggling to get past.

Vettel told to pit now. He can't get past Hulkenberg.

Lap 15

But Hulkenberg pits too! Red Bull do a much, much better job and the Sauber gets out behind. Vettel is now behind Webber - Game on!

Webber t-bones Vergne as he tries to get past. He loses a position to Vettel too. Huge error.

Webber keeps going but pits. Vergne has a slow puncture and will need to pit too.

Lap 16

Now Raikkonen has gone into the back of Perez at turn six. They were fighting for position and he has a hole in his nose. Raikkonen: "What the hell was he doing!"

Raikkonen now passes Perez as Webber is going slowly. Webber says his right rear is broken.

Lap 17

A replay shows that Raikkonen tried to pass Perez on the outside of the turn five kink and got squeezed out.

Lap 18

The wheel has come off Webber's Red Bull at turn 14 and he's stopped. Race over. It was a loose wheel and it came off and rolled across the track. Very dangerous but nobody hit it.

Raikkonen is still on track and staying out with some minimal damage to his front wing and a hole in his nose.

Lap 19

Back at the front, Alonso is 0.7s behind Button and closing for the lead. Hamilton is 4.6s back.

Looks like Raikkonen is closing on Hamilton so that damage isn't having too much of an effect on his pace.

Lap 20

0.3s is the gap as Button crosses the line in the lead. I think Alonso will find a way past on this lap.

Massa pits. So does Rosberg. Both take on another set of mediums as expected.

Vettel passes Perez for fifth. Remember the McLaren hasn't pitted yet and appears to be going for a two stop. Vettel, on a likely three-stop, is now fifth.

Alonso can't find a way past Button into turn 14 as the McLaren shows impressive straight-line pace.

Lap 21

But Alonso finds a way past Button using the DRS into turn one. A very brave move up the inside. Impressive stuff.

Rosberg pits again. Not good news for him.

Hamilton still has Raikkonen right on his tail.

Lap 22

Hamilton and Raikkonen pits. The battle on track will now be given to the pit crews. But both of them are out in 2.5s and the battle is resumed.

No further action after the clash between Raikkonen and Perez. That's probably fair as Raikkonen was trying a pretty audacious move.

Alonso is now stretching his lead at the front. He is 1.5s ahead of Button.

Lap 23

Rosberg retires and parks his car in the Mercedes garage.

Hamilton and Raikkonen are now the fastest cars on the track after their pit stops. That will force Alonso to pit soon.

Lap 24

Alonso does pit now, as does Button. First stop for the McLaren, second stop for Alonso.

Vettel now leads and has finally got the clear air he wanted earlier to show the pace of the Red Bull. He is on older tyres though so will need to pit soon.

Button and Grosjean are under investigation for using the DRS under yellow flags. I suspect that will result in penalties.

Lap 25

Perez now pits.

Hamilton is the fastest man on track and 4.2s behind Alonso now. Vettel and Hulkenberg now lead, with Hulkenberg 3.7s ahead of Alonso.

Perez has opted for soft tyres, which is an interesting choice at this stage.

Lap 26

Alonso is now the fastest man on the track and closing at a rate of knots on Hulkenberg. Button can't live with that pace and is 4.2s off the Ferrari and 1.0s ahead of his ex-team-mate Hamilton.

Alonso passes Hulkenberg and is now attacking Vettel.

Lap 27

Alonso was 3.8s behind Vettel as they crossed the line but has made up 0.9s in the first two sectors.

Hamilton closing on Button and Button asks McLaren if he should fight the Mercedes. McLaren give him the go-ahead so this should be very entertaining.

Meanwhile, Vettel is told not to fight Alonso because he needs to look after his tyres.

Lap 28

Looking at the sector times, it wouldn't be much of a fight between the Red Bull and Ferrari.

Button does indeed defend against Hamilton, but again appears to have good straight-line speed.

Lap 29

Now Hamilton does find a way past Button into turn one quite easily. Hamilton's next target is Hulkenberg.

Alonso passes Vettel easily in turn 13 and scampers off into the lead.

Lap 30

Hulkenberg pits so Hamilton now has some clear road ahead of him behind Vettel.

Raikkonen is now on the back of Button and should find a way past soon.

Hulkenberg has taken soft tyres on.

Lap 31

Button isn't making it easy for Raikkonen though. The McLaren's straight-line speed again comes into play.

Perez is struggling on his soft tyres and is now three seconds off the pace in 11th.

Raikkonen passes Button at turn 14 with DRS.

Lap 32

Vettel pits and medium tyres go on.

Perez is also told to pit. Hulkenberg has gone ahead of Vettel but is now on the soft tyres.

Vettel comes out behind Massa but the Red Bull makes short work of the Ferrari into turn six on newer tyres. Massa looked like he was dozing a bit there. Vettel also passes di Resta out of turn 13 so is now directly behind Hulkenberg.

Lap 33

So we now have the true order of the race with Alonso leading Hamilton, Raikkonen and Button. We think they all need an extra pit stop and Button still needs to use the softs.

Vettel eases past Hulkenberg who is losing time on the softs now. Vettel still needs to use the softs and is up to fifth now, 5.6s behind Button.

Lap 34

Alonso's lead is 11.6s over Hamilton so is looking comfortable.

Raikkonen asking for more front wing at the pit stop he makes now. This will be his final stop. He's still missing most of the vanes and flicks on the left-hand side of his front wing.

Lap 35

Raikkonen will be struggling with extra front tyre wear due to that damage so needs to be careful if he wants to make those tyres last to the end. It's a front-limited tyre wear track here.

Lap 36

Alonso is cruising now and keeping the gap to Hamilton at 11s.

Vettel is closing on Button in a battle for position. The McLaren is on a two-stop strategy and the Red Bull on a three-stop so Vettel is on fresher tyres right now.

Vettel passes with ease on the back straight using DRS. Vettel up to third but he is now fighting Raikkonen who has already made his final stop.

Lap 37

Massa and Hulkenberg pit. They come out of the pits together, but the Sauber is slow out of the pit lane and the Ferrari takes position.

Lap 38

Mercedes pit Hamilton now. The mediums go on and its a slick stop, but he comes out behind Raikkonen and Ricciardo. Ricciardo still needs to pit, but Lewis has lost a position to Kimi.

Hamilton eases past Ricciardo so now has a straight fight with Raikkonen, but it's looking like a fight he is going to lose.

Lap 39

Alonso now leads from Vettel, who still needs to pit for soft tyres. Button is third but also needs to pit for softs.

Lap 40

Alonso starts another lap and is still lapping at a good pace. He will still need to pit at some point and its likely to be soon as Hamilton goes a second quicker on his new tyres.

Maybe I was wrong about the battle between Hamilton and Raikkonen. Remember Kimi is on older tyres and nursing them with the front wing damage.

Lap 41

Big news from the stewards office. Vettel, Webber, Raikkonen, Bottas, Ricciardo and Chilton will all be investigated after the race for using DRS under yellow flags.

Alonso will pit on this lap. If all goes well he will come out ahead of Raikkonen quite easily.

Lap 42

Not the quickest of stops for Alonso and he comes out behind Vettel, but the Red Bull still has to pit once more for softs. Raikkonen is a fair way further back.

Hamilton is now 1.1s behind Raikkonen. So that's heating up.

Lap 43

Alonso passes Vettel with ease into turn one, no fight from Vettel who needs to look after his tyres at this stage to minimise his soft tyre stint.

So Alonso leads, and all being well, will hold that position to the end.

Vettel and Button are second and third but I must stress need to pit again for soft tyres, as does di Resta in sixth.

Lap 44

Alonso sets his fastest lap of the race as the fuel comes down. Button is now the man on the move in his battle with Vettel as he takes 0.8s out of Vettel on that last lap.

Hamilton is just 0.7s off Raikkonen now who is coming up behind Button.

Raikkonen eases past into turn 14. Hamilton needs to follow soon if he wants to keep his fight going with the Lotus.

Lap 45

Hamilton can't pass in turn one but does get the move sorted on the inside of turn two. Brave, but he did have fresher tyres and Button did not have much incentive to fight. He's up against Vettel and does not want to lose time fighting the Mercedes.

Lap 46

Alonso now sets the fastest time of the race. He's 8.7s clear of Raikkonen, who is third on the track but will be second by the time Vettel pits.

Hamilton is now 1.1s off Raikkonen and has to do a lot of work again after losing time passing Button.

Lap 47

Button's tyres are starting to go now and Vettel has just set a personal best. So it looks like the Red Bull has that battle under control.

Alonso told not to push but says he isn't. When you're winning its easy.

Lap 48

Raikkonen is now 11.1s off Alonso. The Ferrari has this one in the bag. Hamilton has dropped to 1.6s off Raikkonen.

Lap 49

Button has one more lap but will likely lose a place to Massa when he pits. The question is if he will be able to get back past without destroying his soft compound.

Hamilton told Vettel will stop in the next three laps.

Lap 50

Button pits with six laps left for the soft tyres to last.

Button rejoins behind Massa. It looks like a three second gap - there or there abouts - so can Button use his extra pace on the softs to pass?

Vettel will pit any time now. He should stay ahead of Massa when he pits and be locked on for fourth.

Button uses that extra pace to pass Massa on his out lap in the DRS zone. Now its about nursing all four corners to the line.

Vettel is about to pit ...

Lap 51

In comes the Red Bull, soft tyres go on. Not the fastest stop but it should be okay as he comes out in fourth with five laps remaining.

Lap 52

Alonso has a 12.0s gap to Raikkonen. Vettel is told to race to the finish but to look after his tyres.

Hamilton is now within a second of Raikkonen, but doesn't appear to be able to get much closer.

Lap 53

Di Resta still needs to pit in fifth and will come out around tenth by my calculation.

At the moment Button is just about holding a 2.6s gap to Massa. But his tyres are already starting to go off.

Lap 54

Hamilton is now 0.8s off Raikkonen. He's going to go for one last push by the looks of it.

Vettel sets the fastest lap of the race but is still 8.2s off Hamilton.

Di Resta pits.

Lap 55

Vettel is still pushing hard and has the gap down to 5.2s. He might get close to Hamilton but those softs will lose their edge soon.

Alonso, meanwhile, is 10.2s clear at the front.

Vettel is still shifting and taking about a second per sector out of Hamilton.

Di Resta came out in eighth so that strategy worked quite well for Force India.

Lap 56

That was a thrilling end to the race. Alonso had it comfortably sewn up, but Vettel was on a mission on the softs and came within 0.2s of Hamilton at the line.

Button held on for fifth, a great result for him after a difficult weekend, Massa sixth, Ricciardo seventh, another very strong performance, di Resta eighth, Grosjean ninth and Hulkenberg tenth.

Perez ends up outside the points in 11th. Vergne 12th.

Ross Brawn tells Lewis it was good drive: "We're not quite there yet, but we're getting close."

Lotus apologises to Raikkonen for the slow start that cost him crucial track position early on.

Alonso starts the final lap.

Hamilton only has 2,0s over Vettel now. Hamilton is struggling in traffic. Vettel should get a run at him.

Vettel goes deep into turn 12 and they go onto the back straight.

Alonso wins, Raikkonen second and Hamilton just holds on for third ahead of Vettel.

Vettel has DRS but can't get past in turn 14

Thank you for joining us for the race today, we were certainly treated to some fantastic entertainment.

Vettel, Webber, Raikkonen, Bottas, Ricciardo and Chilton will all be investigated for using DRS under yellow flags. So keep checking the site for the results of that and the reaction from the teams and drivers.