Chinese Grand Prix Preview

Value of pole position
The pole-sitter has won three times in the last five years; no car has come from lower than fifth to win during that period.
Nico Rosberg (Pole/ Win/ Fastest Lap) 50/1 (Coral)

Driver to watch
In the last five years Lewis Hamilton has won the race twice and finished on the podium on two other occasions.
Lewis Hamilton to win 8/1 (BetVictor)

Retirement Rate – Low
Only two cars have failed to finish the last two editions of the Chinese Grand Prix. With the weather forecast dry and warm there could be a high number of classified drivers.
Over 19 classified drivers 5/4 (Bet365)

Last Race Analysis: Malaysian GP
With so many different race strategies we have tried to analyse lap times to get a better picture of the raw pace of each car. We have compared lap times for cars on the same tyre compound, with similar fuels loads and broken down the race into ‘stints’. 

Stint 1 & 2 – N/A
The damp conditions meant everyone started on intermediates, with teams switching to slicks around lap 6. Due to the evolving nature of the track, I have ignored the first two stints.

The Mercedes were superior in this part of the race, although Sebastian Vettel was on the harder tyre compound and impossible to compare. After showing good pace in free practice, Lotus struggled in the damp conditions, with Nico Hulkenburg splitting the pair in his Sauber.

Depending on your point of view - either Mercedes struggled or Red Bull excelled on the hard tyre; Mark Webber was over half a second quicker than Lewis Hamilton in this stint. Given the gap between Mercedes and McLaren was similar to when both were on the medium compound, perhaps Red Bull deserve the credit.

Red Bull and Mercedes, although not Sebastian Vettel, consolidated their positions and the lap times tell us little else. Jules Bianchi showed some pace in the Marussia and seems to have the edge over the Caterhams.