Hamilton storms to pole in Shanghai

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton claimed his third pole position of the season after continually setting the fastest time in what were tricky conditions in Shanghai.

The 29-year-old, who claimed back to back victories in Malaysia and Bahrain, will start in front of Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel for Sunday's Grand Prix.

Teammate Nico Rosberg, who has enjoyed much success alongside Hamilton so far this season, suffered problems with his car during the qualifying session and will start in fourth position.

Sebastian Vettel was third while Ferrari's Fernando Alonso took fifth from the Williams of Felipe Massa.

Hamilton was in irresistible form throughout qualifying, fastest in all three parts, and each time by about the same margin.

"Definitely the most satisfaction is getting this result when it is raining," said Hamilton. "It was so slippery out there, trying to find the grip and not make mistakes.

"It was a tough session, but the car was feeling great, there are some things that can be improved on but it has put us in a good position for the race."

Vettel was the quickest Red Bull in the first two knock-out sections, but Ricciardo beat the four-time champion when it counted and by an impressive 0.505secs.

Rosberg, who seemed unsettled by Hamilton's pace, ran off the track early in the final session and then spun after getting too wide at the final corner on his last lap.

As it happened, the spin may have prevented Alonso for knocking the German down to fifth.

The Spaniard was the next car through and had been just under a second off Hamilton's time at the second split point.

But the yellow caution flags demanding a driver slow down were already waving as he entered the final corner after Rosberg's spin. Although the Ferrari driver improved his time he was just under 0.5secs down on the German and a similar margin clear of Bottas.

The Finn's Williams team-mate Felipe Massa was seventh, as Force India's Nico Hulkenberg, Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne and Lotus's Romain Grosjean completed the top 10.

It was the first time Lotus have been in the top 10 on the grid and marked a major step forward after a difficult start to the season.

Alonso's team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was knocked out in the second session, when he was 1.1 seconds slower than his team-mate, and will start 11th. Ferrari said the Finn suffered a problem with his downshift.

It was also a difficult day for McLaren, with Jenson Button taking 12th and team-mate Kevin Magnussen only 15th, 0.7secs adrift.