2014 Chinese Grand Prix

Championship standings

Rosberg leads the Drivers’ Championship with 61 points. Hamilton is second on 50 — 11 points behind. Hülkenberg holds third on 28, with Alonso and Button on 26 and 23 respectively. Mercedes lead the Constructors’ with 111 points, ahead of Force India on 44 and McLaren on 43.

Previous race

Hamilton won the Bahrain Grand Prix from second on the grid, passing Rosberg into the first corner at the start and holding him off through an intense closing battle under the floodlights. The two Mercedes drivers duelled repeatedly for the lead after the safety car closed the gap in the final stint, with Rosberg unable to find a way past on worn soft tyres. Pérez took third for Force India — the team’s first podium since the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix.

Between-race developments

Stefano Domenicali resigned as Ferrari team principal ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, citing the team’s difficult start to the season and their longest winless streak in 18 years. He has been replaced by Marco Mattiacci, President and CEO of Ferrari North America.

Tyre choices

Pirelli brings the white-banded medium compound as the prime and the yellow-banded soft as the option — the same selection used at the 2013 Chinese Grand Prix.