Welcome to our coverage of the final free practice from Shanghai. The action starts at 11.00am (0300GMT) and Laurence Edmondson will be here to take you through events.
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Welcome to the final free practice session in China. The action is just minutes away, but if you have any questions in the mean time please send them through by clicking here. |
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Once again, the weather is dry with temperatures similar to the UK at 17 C and a track temp of 25 C |
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The drivers are suiting up and putting on their helmets, Senna is already in his cockpit, working his neck muscles in preparation for an hour-long session. |
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The engines are being fired up as the first few cars head out into the pit lane. |
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Liuzzi is the first on the track in the Force India, followed by at least half the field. |
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Felipe Massa is picking his way through the slower traffic as all the cars complete just one installation lap and go back to the pits. |
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We are still waiting on Button, Hamilton, Webber and Barrichello to head out on to the track. Once again Nico Rosberg is wearing his yellow gloves (that look like marigolds), not sure what the story is behind those. I hope it's a bet. |
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Button and Hamilton are now out on track, they were fastest yesterday. Barrichello also out on track, just Webber who is yet to leave his garage. |
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Mike Gascoyne of Lotus: "Install laps finished. Both Cars running the harder tyre. Jarno looking at a different setup with higher fuel load to start with." Ferrari also reporting everything is going to plan: "Both drivers completed the installation lap. Everything is ok with the cars." |
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Plenty of work on Buemi's car going on, he had a horrible accident yesterday. Both front wheels flew off the car when a brand new suspension upright sheared in two. It was especially worrying as one tyre made its way into the spectators viewing area. |
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A few more fans in the grandstands today but we are well off the 200,000 capacity here. Barrichello reports that his rear wing "wasn't working" - I don't think that is literal, it is probably in reference to an F-duct device the team is rumoured to be running. |
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Webber still hasn't ventured out, as Glock heads out for his second run. |
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Reports suggest Mercedes is running an F-duct on both cars and will continue to do so all weekend. |
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Weather update from Renault: "It could get quite windy on the backstraight, some strong headwinds." That will lower top speeds but the drivers will have no excuse for missing the apex at turn 14. |
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Petrov sets the first flying lap, a 1:44.128. Immediately usurped by Glock and de la Rosa |
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Petrov is now closer to a respectable pace with a 1:38.559. Chnadhok goes straight on heading into one of the hairpins, I think it was turn 6. |
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It looks like Williams are running an extra groove to stall its wing. |
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Massa now fastest with a 1:37.354. All drivers out on hard tyres with Hamilton and Webber going fastest on track. |
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Hamilton 1:36.401, Webber 1:36.325. Red Bull tend to show their hand in this session, but wait for the soft tyres to see the qualifying pace. |
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Barrichello reports that his F-duct is not working. Kovalainen runs wide in turn one, no damage but that car has heaps of understeer. |
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Ralph makes a good point about the lack of spectators: "It's a "good" thing the stands are empty or Buemi's flying wheel might have been a real disaster." |
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Hamilton is now picking uo speed in the McLaren and sets a lap time of 1:35.714. He locked up his brakes and really hit some of the kerbs hard on that lap. |
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Vettel now second fastest with a 1:36.200, as I type he is beaten by Button, who set a 1:36.028 |
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Hamilton back in the pits as Schumacher goes tenth fastest. Rosberg is 0.9 faster than Schumacher at the moment. |
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A lot of the cars return to the pits, just the Mercedes and Senna out on track now. |
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Buemi complains of stiff suspension at the rear, leading to no traction as the tyres can't get enough contact with the track. The rear tyre temp will be too low as a result. |
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Webber leaves his pit garage, he's currently fifth fastest. Barrichello told there is a problem with his engine and is informed that he will not be running his F-duct on his next outing in the car. |
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Webber looks as though he might go fastest ... he has the whole track to himself ... and goes second fastest on a 1:35.939 |
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Webber can't match Hamilton's pace in the first sector but is quicker in the high speed sweeping middle sector. |
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A lot going on in Vettel's garage which is being shielded by big burly mechanics. Seems to be a problem with the left front wheel/hub. |
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Barrichello back on track after that engine issue. Petrov off track |
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Petrov came through the final corner, got on the astroturf run off and couldn't hold the slide. It's a red flag and that's not surprising as he made a big impact with the barriers, destroying the front of the car. |
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Lots of work for the mechanics before qualifying as Petrov walks back to the pits, it's not very far for him, looking completely dejected. |
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So brief respite while the car is recovered from the gravel by the marshals. The good news for Renault is that they should get that back straight away to start repairs. Looking at the damage they should get that fixed in time for Q1. |
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Vettel's problem was a foreign object (read stone) between the hub and the wheel, causing damage to the rim itself. |
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The Renault still hasn't been cleared, the marshals are a bit slow here in Shanghai. Now they lift it away with the aid of a tractor. |
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Petrov is back in his garage going through the telemetry with his engineer. I think the accident was quite simple, he kept his boot in when he was on the astroturf and wasn't quick enough to catch the slide. |
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The cars are back on track with 10 minutes remaining on the clock. |
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Question from Ilya: "Love the coverage! What's your take on Bruno Senna vs Karun Chandok? Chandok, I have to say, has been impressing me greatly over the last few races! Conversely, could it be that Senna is under-performing?" I agree, Chandhok has been very impressive and Senna a little underwhelming. They were team-mates in GP2 in 2008 and Senna certainly had the edge. Mind you, a good performance can be so easily masked by a car as bad as the HRT. |
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So on track, Massa gets a little push out the garage while Alonso sets the second fastest time. |
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Vettel and Webber go quickest on the soft tyres, Webber's best a 1:35.511. Still waiting for McLaren's soft tyre times - Hamilton's first was not very impressive and Button's is a few tenths off the Red Bulls. |
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Schumacher sixth fastest with a 1:36.262. Hamilton just 0.050 off Webber, but that wasn't one of his fastest laps, not using all the track. |
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Massa has a big moment through the final corner, catching the slide that Petrov couldn't. |
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Webber now going even quicker ... a 1:35.323. |
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Button is pushing hard but still 0.424 off Webber. Hamilton is on his final flying lap but won't beat his own or Webber's best time. |
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Webber back in the pits, as is Hamilton now. |
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Massa nearly went into the back of Chandhok into the final hairpin, that was very close. Massa throws his left hand up in disgust. |
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So the chequered flag is out, bringing the session to an end. Webber fastest but Hamilton is still in touch, while we are still not sure what the Ferrari is capable of. For all the answers make sure you join us for qualifying at 06.00 GMT |