F1 Japanese GP Live Commentary and Updates - FP3 & Qualifying
Saturday's action from the fourth round of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
Live AppleTV Race Audio
Following a Red Bull 1-2 in opening practice led by Max Verstappen and then severely limited running in damp FP2 conditions, Saturday’s Suzuka action will prove pivotal for the outcome of the Japanese GP.
The majority of the F1 paddock sees the Japan race as a place where the true pecking order will be revealed due to Suzuka’s characteristics and demands on the cars.
Final practice starts at 3:30am BST followed by qualifying at 7am BST.
The Suzuka grandstands are packed, the fans look fantastic with DRS hats and team gear on show and the drivers are ready for final practice. Let's get this thing going.
Oscar Piastri turns 23 today - happy birthday Oscar! - so can he deliver himself the ideal birthday present? He sort of did by topping FP2 yesterday, but that was a damp squib. Doing the same today would mean so much more.
Meanwhile at Aston Martin, Alonso has also been switched to the upgrades the team delivered this weekend following successful back-to-back tests on Friday. Stroll ran them on the opening day, so both drivers have the new equipment now.
This session should be busier than normal after the drivers lost pretty much all useful running in FP2 due to the damp weather and a chunk of FP1 because of Sargeant's red flag-creating crash. The good news is that it is dry and warm-ish.
