Sebastien Vettel yet again stormed to pole, this time for the Chinese Grand Prix. It is the German’s third of the 2010 season, out of a possible four while it is a fourth consecutive one for Red Bull Racing – a feat that was last accomplished in 2008 by Ferrari. Team mate Mark Webber again lost out and will start second while Fernando Alonso was third for Ferrari (full results).

Such was Red Bull’s domination of the proceedings that after the session, team boss Christian Horner exclaimed on the radio: “who needs ride height systems?” It was an obvious remark at McLaren’s allegations that the Red Bull have been using suspension settings which allow them to run more downforce in qualifying and subsequently the FIA deemed any such systems illegal. The Woking team had their drivers, Jenson Button fifth and Lewis Hamilton only sixth fastest, despite controlling pace during the practice sessions. Clearly, the egg is on them.

Alonso’s team mate Felipe Massa will be upset with his starting place, seventh, as will Michael Schumacher who was only ninth. The seven-time world champion only just managed to get into Q3, edging Rubens Barrichello into 11th just at the end of Q2. Team mate Nico Rosberg again enjoyed a better session and will start in fourth position, again hoping to bring in more championship points for the team. Robert Kubica in eighth and Adrian Sutil in tenth rounded up the top ten.

It was a bit disappointing for Force India as on a track where their Mercedes engine should give them good power, Tonio Liuzzi failed to get past Q1 and will start seventeenth. That’s a body blow for the team in terms of possible constructor points but more so for Liuzzi as reserve driver Paul di Resta is doing quiet well in the Friday practice sessions he is allotted. Force India have their competitors – the two Williams, the two Saubers, Vitaly Petrov’s second Renault and even the two Toro Rosso cars sandwiched in between.

As for Karun Chandhok, he complained of poor braking stability and loss of downforce due to a bad floor on the car, and was piped by team mate Bruno Senna just in the dying moments of Q1, despite being quicker for most of the session. The rest of the new teams duly failed to make the cut past the first session, springing no surprises this time.

There is a sixty percent chance of rain forecast for Sunday. A wet race will make it very exciting indeed for action will be guaranteed for most part of it. However a dry race will make an equally intriguing one for we will get a chance to see for real if the Bahrain snore fest was an anomaly or a routine for this year. Furthermore, in Bahrain, Alonso had strolled to a win after Vettel’s engine had problems. If both of them see out the race without any such effects, we will have a real battle on the cards. Not to forget, the McLarens with their F-duct will be ready to pounce on the four cars in front.