F1 Japanese GP live commentary and updates: Race day
Follow along for updates from the 2026 F1 Japanese Grand Prix
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Russell is making progress, past Norris at the start of lap three and then passing Leclerc for P2 on the main straight as lap four begins.
Max Verstappen, meanwhile, has made it to P9 and overtaken teammate Isack Hadjar. As the Red Bulls duel into the chicane, Hadjar gets a sub-optimal exit and loses out to Esteban Ocon.
Poor start for the Audis of Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg – they're P13 and P19.
Antonelli bags P5 from Hamilton on the main straight as lap two begins.
WE'RE OFF
And it's happened immediately! Terrible start for Kimi Antonelli as he drops to P6 before Turn 1.
Oscar Piastri sweeps into the lead ahead of Charles Leclerc, while Lando Norris asserts himself over George Russell for P3 before the Esses. Lewis Hamilton in P5.
Interesting thing will be how the start pans out since those fast-launching Ferraris are in P4 and P6.
Well as the data screen does its ta-da and reveals who is on what, the first of those circumstantial rug-pulls is delivered – everyone is starting on medium Pirellis apart from Valtteri Bottas in P20, who is on the hards.
Given the increased chances of safety cars being required this season, to cover cars conking out in awkward places, starting on hards is less nailed on as an alternative strategy for the tail-enders as it used to be.
In other news, Pirelli's tyre strategy prognostications are for various flavours of one-stop. Starting on soft tyres? Window for swapping to hards is laps 13 to 19, for mediums 18 to 24. Starting on mediums? Hards from laps 15 to 21.
Now settle back and watch as the circumstances of the race renders this arrant nonsense.
Obviously you can also have fun in the deli aisle of your local supermarket as you try to locate the avocado-based dip... IS THAT GUAC?
Timo Glock doing the grid interviews for Sky Germany. He's looking a little grey these days so tricky to recognise at first – until that voice in your head shrieks IS THAT GLOCK????
[A little gag for British TV viewers there]
We always have a giggle about the grid 'DJ' as they cavort and jiggle and theatrically twiddle knobs as they pretend to be performing some live magic on a set they've obviously prepared in advance.
The celebs are grooving ostentatiously next to the grid 'DJ'. I dare them to pull his USB stick out...
Oh look, Arnold Schwartzenegger's son-in-law is here.
Chris Pratt looks on.
Photo by: Clive Mason / Getty Images
The cast of the new Super Mario movie are combining promo duties with ligging this weekend. Hopefully the film won't be as ghastly as the 1990s misfire with Bob Hoskins, John Leguizamo and Dennis Hopper slumming it in service of tax bills/alimony...
Anya Taylor-Joy looks on.
Photo by: Clive Mason / Getty Images
JOULES IN THE CROWN
One of the major topics of conversation this weekend continues to be the balance of electrical versus internal combustion engine power and its unfortunate effects on some areas of the racing. Many of the drivers were complaining in Suzuka that the formula was actively penalising them for pushing through corners.
START DELAYED
The formation lap has been pushed back to 14:10 (local) owing to barrier repairs "ongoing at Turn 12 after an incident in a support catgory", says the FIA.
HATS ENTERTAINMENT
As usual, the home of the Japanese GP is a festival of craft and amateur millinery...
An Oracle Red Bull Racing fan.
Photo by: Lars Baron / LAT Images via Getty Images
By: Stuart Codling
