2011 Japanese Grand Prix The Japanese Grand Prix

Air temperature is up to 24 Celsius, but don't pay too much attention to the decreasing track temperature reading (now 31 degrees).

Leading drivers are expected to sprint off on a three - or more - stop strategy, starting on the softer rubber used in final qualifying.

There are five minutes to go until the formation lap begins at Suzuka.

Drivers are getting comfortable in their cars ahead of a long race, with many pitstops in prospect.

One DRS zone is available here at Suzuka, detected just after 130R before allowing the wing to open all the way down the main straight.

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Track temperature has dipped slightly to 35 degrees as the sun continues to shine down on everywhere but the pitlane - where it is measured.

In a highly charged moment, the Japanese fans react respectfully and with a great deal of pride, as they cheer and blow the airhorns.

Kamui Kobayashi has brought the Fukushima girls' choir to Suzuka and they are performing the national anthem on the grid.

The March 11th Pacific earthquake and tsunami dealt Japan a terrible blow, with the loss of 16,000 lives.

The pitlane is now closed. Any driver not on the grid by now will be required to start from the pitlane, once the field has taken the start

Drivers continue to talk with their engineers on the grid, making final plans for the complex strategy picture set to unfold this afternoon.

Vettel has arrived on the grid. He is pushed past Bernie Ecclestone and into pole position by a handful of Red Bull mechanics.

Practice starts continue at the end of the pitlane as drivers measure the grip levels to set up the start system for the grid launch.

Here's how the grid will line up today: Pos Driver Team 1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 2. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 3. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 4. Felipe Massa Ferrari 5. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 6. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 7. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 8. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 9. Vitaly Petrov Renault 10. Bruno Senna Renault 11. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 12. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 13. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 14. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Cosworth 15. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 16. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 17. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 18. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Renault 19. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Renault 20. Jerome D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 21. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 22. Daniel Ricciardo HRT-Cosworth 23. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 24. Tonio Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth

Vettel is now on his way to the grid, checking the functions on the RB7 and feeling out the grip level.

Weather conditions are fine and dry for the fourth day in a row across the Mie Prefecture and Suzuka is looking great in the sunlight.

Today's race should start with almost a clear sky, but towards the end we may see some light, scattered cloud move in, similar to Friday.

Air temperature has peaked at 23 Celsius this afternoon and track surface temperature almost reached 40 degrees, but again we should see the official data lower slightly as the pitlane shading issue takes effect.

The Lotus pair head out, passing through the pits once for a practice start.

Button heads out of the McLaren garage for his tour around to second place on the grid.

Here's a reminder of the standings as the season begins to draw to a close. World Championship standings, round 14: Drivers: Constructors: 1. Vettel 309 1. Red Bull-Renault 491 2. Button 185 2. McLaren-Mercedes 353 3. Alonso 184 3. Ferrari 268 4. Webber 182 4. Mercedes 114 5. Hamilton 168 5. Renault 70 6. Massa 84 6. Force India-Mercedes 48

The pitlane is now open, allowing drivers to join the track and check over the basic functions of their cars before the start of the race.