Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton has picked up his first pole position of the season at the Chinese Grand Prix.

The 2008 World Champion held of Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen by 0.3 seconds, while Fernando Alonso of Ferrari took third.

Hamilton's team-mate Nico Rosberg took fourth position, just ahead of Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Lotus' Romain Grosjean.

However McLaren and Red Bull struggled. Reigning champions Sebastian Vettel was down in ninth, while the other Red Bull of Mark Webber was outside the Top 10 in 14th.

Jenson Button finished one place above Vettel with Sergio Perez in 12th position.