Front row start for Ricciardo in China

The Australian put in a mighty lap around the Shanghai circuit to set the second fastest time behind championahip leader Nico Rosberg in the Mercedes.

Daniil Kvyat also made Q3 and will start from sixth on the grid.

Fears of a wet qualifying were eased, despite a sodden free practice 3 session earlier on Saturday, as the track dried ahead of the session to decide Sunday’s grid.

After two controversial races with an unsuccessful and unpopular qualifying format, F1 reverted to the 2015 rules, with three sessions of straight knock-out.

But an early red flag, when Manor Racing’s Pascal Wehrlein hit a wet patch and spun into the barriers, delayed things in Shanghai.

And while world champion Lewis Hamilton suffered engine problems and will start from the back, it mattered little to the two Red Bull Racing pair as they made it through to the final Q3 session.

“I’m quite shocked because to be on the front row here is an incredible performance,” said team boss Christian Horner. “He got quicker and quicker and put everything together. He nailed it.

“We know we’re vulnerable but we’ll be giving it everything.”