On the face of it Lewis Hamilton has today's Chinese Grand Prix pretty much wrapped up. Significantly quickest in every session, though given a late challenge by teammate Nico Rosberg in Q3, the Briton still had something in reserve and has clearly bounced back following the disappointment of Sepang.
At Ferrari, James Allison is keen not to overstate the team's chances here or at any other races, choosing his words with the tact of a politician. However, there was no mistaking Sebastian Vettel's wry smile at the end of yesterday's session. OK, he might think he's only going to realistically walk away from here with 15 points, or maybe beat Rosberg to second, but then again...
On the other hand, teammate Kimi Raikkonen was not smiling, the Finn bemoaning the sudden change in the handling of the SF15-T. On Friday he was challenging Hamilton for the top spot and 24-hours later doing well to hold off Daniel Ricciardo for sixth.
However, let's not forget the performance of the red cars on their long runs on Friday or the drop off in performance from the Mercedes. Indeed, minded that this time around, having learned its lesson on Malaysia, Mercedes saved a set of options in qualifying, Rosberg said "so what, the options are rubbish here".
Williams finally came good and maybe this is where the Grove outfit gets its 2015 season up and running for real. Great performances in qualifying from both Felipe Mass and Valtteri Bottas, though the Finn does at times appear to be too aggressive and overdrive the car.
A great performance also from Ricciardo, though one has to wonder whether he has the equipment to convert it into a decent points haul. Christian Horner claims that "over a single lap 7th is where the team is", but all things considered that very much plays down the Australian driver's determination. What with the ongoing engine issues, not to mention its obvious problems with brakes, perhaps Daniil Kvyat best represents the team's current standing.
If one were to draw up a list of wasted talents on the 2015 grid - drivers who should have achieved more - Romain Grosjean would have to be included. Another bravura performance from the Frenchman in qualifying to get into the Top Ten.
Just a few weeks ago Sauber was embroiled in a nasty l little court case, even if the Swiss outfit bore much of the responsibility. Yet the under-funded Hinwil team has both drivers in the first five rows on the grid and, with the aid of that much improved Ferrari power unit, could add a few more points to its Melbourne tally.
After a strong performance in FP3, Toro Rosso fell apart when it really mattered, a fact not lost on the Faenza outfit. Nonetheless in Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz it has two very solid drivers and we will not be surprised to see both of them in the points when the chequered flag falls.
If Sergio Perez fears a "year of pain", it is to be expected that it will comprise many weekends of misery. The force India looks lost at sea, o=and one can only sympathise with the Mexican and his talented teammate.
Despite it all, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button continue smiling, the Spaniard admitting that merely to finish today's race will be a result. The team, and its engine partner, is making progress, but in the meantime it's painful to watch.
Improvements too at Manor, where both drivers qualified under their own steam, within 107%, and for the first time both look likely to start the race.
In terms of strategy, three stops is on paper the quickest option (by one second) for the 56-lap race, but this carries a risk of feeding back into traffic - although overtaking in China is easier than on many circuits, thanks to a wide track layout and several passing opportunities.
The fastest three-stopper is to start on soft, change to soft on lap 10, soft again on lap 25 and medium on lap 43.
However, in practice, a two-stopper is more likely. The best strategy in this case would be to start on soft, soft again on lap 12 and then medium on lap 27. If degradation can be controlled, an intriguing but unlikely possibility would be a one-stopper: start on soft and then change to medium on lap 19.
There has been no overnight rain, no overnight dramas, other than a new ICE for Ricciardo, so we're good to go... the pitlane opens. One by one the drivers head out, the Mercedes duo among the first.
Hmm... a little bit of gamesmanship as Hamilton, in his enthusiasm to return to the track following an early install run, finds the Ferraris, particularly Vettel, unwilling to move aside for him. Waving his hand in frustration, he complains to his team that the "Ferraris are dangerous", having blocked him and "ruined his practice start". In all honesty, it all appeared to be more about the Briton's need to be out first than anything the red cars were doing.
Air temperature is 21 degrees C, while the track temperature is 46 degrees. It is bright and sunny with no sign of the traditional smog... or Friday's track invader. One wonders what happened to both of them.
As the national anthem begins, a few drivers appear to be missing... Kvyat is among the late arrivals. That said, we still don't know why the drivers need to be distracted by this at such a late stage. It must completely mess with the mind-set.
They head off on the parade lap, all but Kvyat and Sainz on options.
The grid forms, and at the front Hamilton's car is almost side-on to the start line, pointing towards the line that teammate Rosberg will take. The Briton making no effort to disguise where he believes the main challenge at the start will come from.
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