Okay, well done everyone. Good points. I think we got a bit unlucky. The hard was so good and I think we could have got Kimi there if the issue didn't happen at the end. James Vowles to Alex: Alex, well done. It's a good point. Agreed with you there was more in it, but I'm more encouraged by the fact that we had a good race car underneath us today. That we won't lose. I'm looking forward to the next few races. Yeah, good recovery from yesterday everyone, so well done. And Happy Birthday again! Alex to PIT: Thanks, getting old! James Vowles to Alex: Trust me, not yet! It gets worse!

Birthday Points 🥳

P9 in Shanghai! Two more points for Alex – a mega drive!

One more tour of Shanghai to go... Alex - P9

Three laps to go, Alex being asked to lift and coast in this closing stages... Alex - P9

Closing stages now here in Shanghai, Alex is 2.1s behind ANT with a 3.6s margin over BEA Alex - P9

Alex is starting to reel in Antonelli, two tenths quicker on the last tour... Alex - P9

Alex has BEA behind who is closing on medium tyres, but AA23 is looking forward – the two ahead are on 10-lap older hard tyres... Alex - P9

STR finally pits, 36 laps on his hard tyres which will be reassuring for Alex's strategy. Alex - P9

Back into the top 10 as TSU stops. "Your pace is good" Alex is told. Alex - P10

Alex climbs to P11 as HAD makes his second stop...

Gap to Stroll in P7 has reduced to 11 seconds.

Alex maintaining the gap the car ahead to try keep his tyres is a good window to push towards the end of the race when those ahead pit again... Alex - P12

Up to P12 for Alex as BEA makes his first stop...

So we think Stroll, P7, and all the cars between you and him will pit again.

Move made! GAS makes it tough, but Alex sends it at the hairpin - he's P13 and chasing HAD...

The chase is on, GAS is the car ahead and Alex has DRS...

Mega first stint, Albono! It's fresh hards and he returns to the track in P14, but with much younger rubber than those immediately ahead...

I know we want to be smart, but don't be too smart. PIT to ALEX Yeah, there's a big train behind TSU.

That was fun whilst it lasted. PIA takes the lead back from Alex under DRS...

Well... that's P1. Alex leads the Chinese GP. He's extending the opening stint...

"Pace is good" Albono is told over the radio, as he cycles up to P5 now with stops from HAM and VER...

Clean air for Albono as he jumps to P7 as ANT and OCO stop...

We're seeing some of the first pit stops now, Alex has climbed into the top 10 as a result... Alex - P9

We're thinking Plan A plus 6.

Albono is UP for this! He's playing this crucial tyre management stage well, sitting comfortably in the DRS window of OCO ahead. Alex - P11

We're happy with tyres. ALEX to PIT Yeah, I'm good. I am very comfortable.

Alex is currently in the middle of a seven car DRS train, headed up by TSU in P8 with SAI the final carriage in P14...

So much clipping everywhere, especially Turn 1.

GAS is now the car behind Alex after ALO suffers a brake issue...

Clean opening lap, Alex had dropped two spots but fought back on ALO and is now P11...

LIGHTS OUT IN SHANGHAI!

One lap for Alex to prep his fresh medium tyres ahead of the start...

Okay Alex, so tyre-wise, the top 13 cars all on medium.

Alex is in his car, time for a birthday drive... let's do this.

Alex heads to the front of the grid for the pre-race ceremonies, not long left to go now...

The grid shared birthday wishes as the they readied for the drivers parade

It's a special day for Albono, too, as he turns 29 today. He got a lot of well wishes from you all. Check out some of the highlights here 👇

Welcome to the Chinese Grand Prix everyone. It's a glorious and unseasonably warm day at the Shanghai International Circuit for Alex to race. He scored big in the rain one week ago. We'll see how he manages in drier conditions very soon.

Lily kept a close eye on Alex all through Saturday

Alex will start in P10 for tomorrow's race!

ALEX: I think that was the best we could have done. ALEX: I think we made a better race car as well, so that's good. PIT: You did a good job to get into Q3, so nice job. JAMES: Well done Alex, I agree. I think that's where the car was this afternoon. JAMES: Hopefully it'll turn out to be a better race car tomorrow.

Alex can't go faster on his final run, missing two tenths, and complains about his tyre. He'll begin in P10 tomorrow after another stellar session.

It's P10 for Alex at the moment, but a single tenth would see him jump two positions. An incredibly close Quali.

Alex puts in a 1:31.706. Let's see where that gets him...

A top effort from Albono sees him in the final part of a qualifying session for the third time in two weeks. Where will he qualify?

Alex is going quick

Let's just focus on a clean outlap. I think we have more pace in the car. We just haven't had a very good outlap in Q2.

Alex gets a 1:31.595 to improve but remain in P10. He's into Q3! He pumps his fist in the cockpit. That's a delighted driver!

Alex leads the sister FW47 out of the pit lane. He's got a new set of softs on his car as he pushes to get into Q1.

Alex puts in a 1:31.621. He's in the top spots for the moment, in P8, as he heads back to the pit lane.

Alex begins his first Q2 push lap...

Another slow start to the session as a pit lane queue makes it tricky for Alex to join the track.

A 1:31.503 gets Alex into P6 and he's through to the second part of Quali.

Albono follows his teammate for this last Q1 lap. He's P12, as it stands...

Alex is back in the pit lane, along with most of the grid. It's time for one last Q1 push.

A trip to the weigh bridge as Alex returns to the pit lane.

A 1:31.970 as Alex's first representative lap. That's good enough for P6.

Alex doesn't set a time, but comes into the pit lane for a live pit stop and a switch to a new set of soft rubber.

Everyone aside from Max Verstappen is on track, and they're all running softs. Let's see how Alex fares...

Okay. Session is going green.

Alex is nearly ready to get his grid position for tomorrow's race. Are you ready? Follow along right here.

Remember Alex's Chinese GP weekend with a limited-time collectable! Head to the top of the page any time or click below to grab yours now 👇

Lapped: China Edition!

Alex attempts to answer some fiendishly difficult Chinese GP-themed questions!

Alex fends off the Alpine's advance to cross the line in P11.

Alex begins the final tour of Sprint. Gasly has quickly closed in and will have DRS on the back straight...

Alex remains in P11, just on the cusp of DRS from Alonso. Meanwhile, it's now Gasly behind instead of Bearman, 3.6 seconds away. Lap 17/19

Tyre management is working well for Alex. He's 1.6 seconds away from Alonso and P10 and rapidly closing. Lap 15/19

OK, seven laps to go. You're doing a good job with tyres. It's good night for that front left. Carlos had to pit for another medium.

Alex is running by himself a little in P11. He's now 3 seconds adrift of Alonso and 2 seconds ahead of Bearman. Lap 12/19

Radio between the car and pit wall discuss how Alex can use the energy deployment to pass Alonso. He falls behind a little, with the gap now 1.8 seconds. Lap 9/19

Alonso has to cover the inside line at the Turn 14 hairpin as Alex probes for an opening. Lap 6/19

As many drivers fall over a second behind the cars in front, Alex stays close to Alonso to benefit from DRS. He's getting close to the Spaniard, but no overtake yet. Lap 5/17

Alonso is dropping away from Norris as Alex closes in on the Aston Martin's rear wing. Lap 3/19

Alex is less than a second from Alonso ahead, and Bearman is less than a second behind. Lap 2/19

The Aston Martins make their way by Alex in the opening sectors as it gets very tight in the twisting corners. Lap 1/19

Alex and his 19 rivals are all equipped with Pirelli's yellow-walled rubber.

That's Alex and the cars heading out for their first lap of the day.

Radio check.

It's not long before Alex sets out for the formation lap. If you're just waking up or are already enjoying your day, get ready to go racing...

That's a happy looking Albono

The first of this weekend's two races is coming up. Alex lines up P9 for Sprint today and in a great place to fight for more points after his Melbourne excellence. Where will he finish? We'll find out soon with lights out in 30 minutes.

The curtain comes down on Sprint Quali, with Alex’s top time of 1:31.852 meaning he finishes the session in P9. We’ll be bringing you all the action when Saturday’s Sprint gets started at 11am local time (CST), so make sure to join us again then!

It’s a best lap of SQ3 from Albono, who is in P9 courtesy of a 1:31.852 lap time.

AA23 is in P8 after his first lap, following a time of 1:52.203.

Albono returns to the Shanghai International Circuit.

The final stage of today’s Sprint Quali has started. This time the top ten drivers will jostle for position on the starting grid at tomorrow’s Sprint, with just eight minutes to record a better time than their rivals. Unlike SQ1 and 2, Alex will be using soft tyres on this occasion.

SQ2 comes to a close, and Alex’s best time of 1:31.539 sees him finish P7. He’s through to SQ3!

Albono’s latest lap is his fastest of the session at 1:31.539. He’s in P7 as things stand.

Alex completes his first lap of SQ2, recording a time of 1:58.143 — currently leaving him in P9.

Our Thai racer ventures out onto the track for SQ2, with around five minutes of the session remaining.

The action is back under way in Shanghai. It’s still medium tyres only for this one, with ten minutes to record a top-ten finish.

A top time of 1:32.462 is enough to send Alex through to SQ2 in 14th place.

AA23 records his best time of the session, coming in at 1:32.462. That moves him up to P10.

Albono posts a first lap time of 1:32.845, putting him in P11 as things stand.

"Go push..."

Alex heads out onto the track. Remember that it’s medium tyres only in SQ1, with the session lasting 12 minutes.

We’re under way at the Shanghai International Circuit!

The first Sprint Quali of 2025 gets started in just 5️⃣ minutes.

Not long left to wait before Alex's first competitive session of the weekend...

Alex returns to the pits to go through the data

That's the first hour complete. Alex got another pit lane practice start in before the flag flew. A last-ditch effort from Hulkenberg means Alex ends FP1 in P7.

Out and in for Alex on the soft tyres. He slipped to P6 as others complete their laps. That's an encouraging sign for Sprint Quali later.

Alex goes P2 with a 1:32.687!

The final moments of the session see Alex switching to soft Pirellis as the green flag flies.

Jack Doohan has an issue with his Alpine to stop the session.

No damage for Albonno, but he runs into the escape road on pit entry. An earlier lock-up at the hairpin is to blame for the long stopping distance.

Alex returns to the pit lane as the timer ticks to 20 minutes remaining. He boxes, then goes to the end of the pits for another practice start.

Alex, that's a strong lap so far.

That's 14 laps racked up now. Alex is taking plenty of lessons from this new track surface. He's P10 right now.

Alex is back on track with the same medium rubber. He does a practice start at the end of the pit lane before taking a tour.

Alex speeds around Shanghai

Albono improves one final time on these tyres, setting a 1:33.636. He's P9 as he heads into the pit lane.

"That's a decent lap" is the radio message from the pit wall as Albono gets a 1:33.718 on his latest push lap. He sits P6.

PIT: Go around for one more... ALEX: I can go now. PIT: Okay. Good. Go Push.

A lot of cars in Alex's way during the final sector, but he still improves to a 1:34.603. He's P11 for the moment.

A clean lap for Alex sees him set a 1:35.830.

There's something loose around my pedals

Albono goes deep at the Turn 1 and Turn 2 right-hander as he tries to avoid Ollie Bearman. A little run through the gravel, but Alex avoids the barriers.

The green light illuminates and there's a queue in the pit lane. Alex exits the garage to join the drivers. He's the 16th car in the order, running on medium tyres.

It's sunny but mild as Alex & Lily demonstrated in their jackets heading into the paddock

Hello from Shanghai! Alex is set to get an hour of running in the sole Free Practice session of this weekend. It's FP1 and Sprint Qualifying today, and we'll bring you everything from car No23 here.