WATCH LIVE: Chinese Grand Prix Race Day on NBCSN and Live Extra from 1:30am ET - MotorSportsTalk

Lewis Hamilton may have been forced to settle for second place behind Sebastian Vettel and Ferrari in Malaysia two weeks ago, but the defending Formula 1 world champion proved on Saturday he is still the man to beat by claiming pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix.

Despite failing to improve his time at the end of Q3, Hamilton’s lap was good enough for his fifth pole position at the Shanghai International Circuit. Nico Rosberg will start alongside his teammate on the front row of the grid as he bids to avoid a ninth defeat in the last ten races to the Briton.

With Vettel looming large behind the Silver Arrows in third place on the grid, the stage is set for a close fight at the front of the field in China on Sunday.

You can watch the Chinese Grand Prix live on NBCSN and Live Extra from 1:30am ET on Sunday. CLICK HERE to watch via live stream.

Hamilton has continued his love affair with the race in China this weekend by topping every single session, always managing to find those extra few tenths to beat Rosberg. Even when he made a mistake in the final part of qualifying and failed to improve his time, the German driver could not get on top. His frustration was clear for all to hear in his post-session radio cry of: “Oh come on you guys!”

Ferrari should draw closer to Mercedes during the race, given how competitive its long-run pace in FP2 on Friday was, but a repeat of its win in Malaysia seems unlikely. Pirelli expects all drivers to two-stop, and although a one-stop race is possible, it would leave those brave enough to take a punt on it scrambling at the end of the race.

Just behind Ferrari, a great battle for P5 appears to be on the cards between Williams and Red Bull. Daniel Ricciardo told NBCSN that he was surprised by Williams’ qualifying pace, whilst Felipe Massa appeared more focused on the cars ahead. With the likes of Lotus, Toro Rosso and even Sauber circling just behind, any mistakes could be particularly costly in China.

The same is true for Hamilton and Rosberg. This may only be the prologue to their main saga in 2015, but the foundations for another spectacular title fight are already being laid.

You can watch the Chinese Grand Prix live on NBCSN and Live Extra from 1:30am ET on Sunday. CLICK HERE to watch via live stream.

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The NTT IndyCar Series will return to the Motor City for the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix but with start times in a new location for 2023.

After a 30-year run on Belle Isle, the Detroit GP has moved a few miles south to the streets of downtown on a new nine-turn, 1.7-mile circuit that runs along the Detroit River.

It’s the first time single-seater open-cockpit cars have raced on the streets of Detroit since a CART event on a 2.5-mile downtown layout from 1989-91. Formula One also raced in Detroit from 1982-88.

The reimagined Detroit Grand Prix also will play host to nightly concerts and bring in venders from across the region. Roger Penske predicts the new downtown locale will be bigger for Detroit than when the city played host to the 2006 Super Bowl.

Here are the details and IndyCar start times for the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach race weekend (all times are ET):

CHEVROLET DETROIT GRAND PRIX INDYCAR START TIMES

TV: Sunday, 3 p.m. ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock, the NBC Sports App and NBCSports.com. Leigh Diffey is the announcer with analysts Townsend Bell and James Hinchcliffe. Dave Burns, Marty Snider and Kevin Lee are the pit reporters. Click here for the full NBC Sports schedule for IndyCar in 2023.

Peacock also will be the streaming broadcast for both practices and qualifying.

POSTRACE SHOW ON PEACOCK: After the race’s conclusion, an exclusive postrace show will air on Peacock with driver interviews, postrace analysis and the podium presentation. To watch the extended postrace show, click over to the special stream on Peacock after Sunday’s race ends.

COMMAND TO START ENGINES: 3:23 p.m. ET

GREEN FLAG: 3:30 p.m. ET

PRACTICE: Friday, 3 p.m. (Peacock Premium); Saturday, 9:05 a.m. (Peacock Premium); Sunday, 10 a.m. (Peacock Premium)

QUALIFYING: Saturday, 1:20 p.m. (Peacock Premium)

RACE DISTANCE: The race is 100 laps (170 miles) on a nine-turn, 1.7-mile temporary street course in downtown Detroit.

TIRE ALLOTMENT: Seven sets primary, four sets alternate. Rookie drivers are allowed one extra primary set for the first practice.

PUSH TO PASS: 150 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 15 seconds per activation (Indy NXT: 150 seconds total, 15 seconds per). The push-to-pass is not available on the initial start or any restart unless it occurs in the final two laps or three minutes of a timed race. The feature increases the power of the engine by approximately 60 horsepower.

FORECAST: According to Wunderground.com, it’s expected to be 80 degrees with a 0% chance of rain.

ENTRY LIST: Click here to view the 27 drivers racing Sunday at Detroit

INDY NXT RACES: Saturday, 12:05 p.m. 45 laps/55 minutes (Peacock Premium); Sunday, 12:50 p.m. 45 laps/55 minutes (Peacock Premium)

INDY NXT ENTRY LIST: Click here to view the 19 drivers racing at Detroit