Chinese Grand Prix Factfile: What time does the race start? What's the Shanghai lap record?

The 2018 Formula One season is gathering pace now and with Ferrari and Sebastien Vettel already having claimed two consecutive wins, Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton in particular will be eager to get their first win, while Red Bull need to make amends after a disastrous Bahrain GP as we head to the Far East!

WHEN IS THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX?

The Chinese Grand Prix will be held on Sunday April 15 at the Shanghai International Circuit, Shanghai.

The race will start at 14:10 local time (07:10 BST). Saturday's qualifying session starts at 14:00 local time (07:00 BST).

WHO WON LAST YEAR?

Lewis Hamilton gained his sixth consecutive podium in China in the 2017 GP, and dominated and led from start to finish, whilst also setting the fastest lap.

In claiming the flag, Hamilton equalled Jim Clark's career record of 11 'hat-tricks' - races won from pole position while recording the fastest lap. He has since surpassed this record, but remains some distance behind Michael Schumacher on 22.

WHO HAS MOST WINS?

The Chinese GP belongs to Lewis Hamilton. The Brit has five wins to his name (2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017) - three more than the second-most successful drivers in China, Fernando Alonso and Nico Rosberg, who have two wins apiece.

Since 2004, Rubens Barrichello, Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen, Jenson Button, and Vettel have single victories in Shanghai.

In terms of constructors, Mercedes has the most wins with five, largely due to Hamilton, with Ferrari and McLaren in behind with four and three victories respectively.

HOW LONG IS THE SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT?

The grand prix circuit has 16 turns which are designed to make up the Chinese character 'shang' which means 'sharing'. It is over 5.451 km (3.387 mi), with 56 laps adding up to a race distance of 305.066 km (189.559 mi).

WHAT IS THE LAP RECORD?

Michael Schumacher clocked the fastest in-race lap at China in 2004 with Ferrari, stopping the watch at one minute and 32.238 seconds. Lewis Hamilton recorded the fastest lap last year with a time of 1:35.378.

WHAT IS THE WEATHER FORECAST?

Drivers are set to take to the course in rainy conditions for practice on Friday, but thankfully the weather will improve as the weekend goes on. Saturday is just cloudy with a four-degree temperature drop, while the Grand Prix proper will be greeted with sunny skies at 18 degrees.

WHICH PIRELLI TYRES ARE AVAILABLE?

Pirelli will bring the medium, soft and ultrasoft tyres to Shanghai.