Formula 1 2018 head-to-heads: Who needs a good qualifying?

We’re only two rounds into a record-equalling 21-race season, but already there are several drivers who are under pressure to deliver in qualifying.

For all the races won and pole positions secured, beating a team-mate over one lap remains one of the main motivations for drivers, and provides one of the easiest ways to judge and compare performances.

So how about a look at the qualifying scores and Saturday head-to-heads ahead of the Chinese GP?

Qualifying is live on Sky F1 from 7am on Saturday, with build-up from 6am

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel has made a perfect start to the season when it comes to race victories and points – but that speed hasn’t always been there in qualifying. Kimi Raikkonen, who lost 15-5 last year, out-paced the German at the season-opening shootout in Australia and looked to have done so again in Bahrain before Vettel grabbed pole.

It’s neck and neck for their rivals, too.

The Mercedes drivers had contrasting Saturdays in Melbourne, with Lewis Hamilton sealing a sublime pole while Valtteri Bottas span into the barriers in Q3. The Finn bounced back at round two, however, qualifying just ahead of his team-mate in third – though Hamilton was aware that he had a five-place grid penalty.

At Red Bull, Max Verstappen has appeared to have a slight edge over Daniel Ricciardo, only for mistakes to let him down. He qualified ahead of the Australian at his home race, while he was on course to do so again in Bahrain but crashed his RB14 at the end of Q1.

Fernando Alonso beat Stoffel Vandoorne 16-3 in qualifying last season and has made another strong start in 2018. He leads that McLaren battle 2-0, with Vandoorne a little closer to his double title-winning team-mate, though neither have made Q3.

Nico Hulkenberg has also been impressive. It’s a big season for Carlos Sainz as he looks to impress Red Bull on his Renault ‘loan’ but the Spaniard is already 2-0 down and struggling to match Hulkenberg’s Saturday speed.

It’s a whitewash so far at Haas, too. Kevin Magnussen has made both Q3 sessions for one of 2018’s surprise package, and while Romain Grosjean was impressive in Australia, he didn’t even make it out of Q1 in Bahrain.

Pierre Gasly may have produced the lap of the season so far for Toro Rosso in Bahrain, qualifying on the third row, but he was flat last in the opening shootout so is still level with Brendon Hartley.

Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon are also level, with the Frenchman making up for his Melbourne deficit in the desert by making Q3 for a Force India team who have struggled to meet expectations.

It’s neck and neck for a woefully below-par Williams, too. Lance Stroll was beaten 17-2 by Felipe Massa in his rookie year but made a good start against Sergey Sirotkin this season, only for the Russian to out-pace him in Bahrain’s qualifying.

Charles Leclerc is another rookie looking to impress this year, and is extremely highly rated with his Formula 2 win and Ferrari links. He’s 2-0 down to Marcus Ericsson, however, with the Swede also sealing Sauber’s first points of the season in Bahrain.

Will Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari make it three wins in a row or can Mercedes and Red Bull respond in Shanghai? Watch the Chinese GP exclusively live on Sky Sports F1 this weekend. Get Sky Sports F1.

(c) Sky News 2018: Formula 1 2018 head-to-heads: Who needs a good qualifying?