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Japanese GP
F1 Japanese GP Live Commentary and Updates - Race day
Minute-by-minute updates for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka
A week after Singapore, Suzuka also returns to the calendar following a three-year absence, where Max Verstappen can claim a second F1 world title if he is 112 points clear of second place in the standings at the chequered flag.
The Red Bull driver starts on pole for Sunday's race, having escaped a penalty after a near-miss with Norris at 130R as both drivers came to prepare for their opening laps in the final stage of qualifying.
He will line up ahead of the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, with Red Bull's Sergio Perez joining the latter on the second row.
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Breaking news
Here's the latest on Gasly passing a tractor on the track during the Japanese GP:
The Gasly tractor incident will be investigated after the race, after having been noted by the FIA stewards earlier.
The medical car is undertaking an exploratory lap of the track to assess conditions. It still looks very wet.
The two-hour clock is now starting to tick down, as we've been parked up for about an hour. If we get going again, it'll likely go to time.
TV replays have shown the recovery vehicle was on the track during the safety car period, so the safety car and the F1 car train passed it, and then the race is red-flagged at the moment Gasly went past it. Having pitted on lap one to clear the debris he picked up, Gasly was going quicker to catch up with the back of the pack behind the safety car when he passed the recovery vehicle.
I think there's a clear answer to the tractor debate: just don't have recovery vehicles on track when there's bad visibility.
Whatever happens today, it will be the latest episode of scrutiny of the FIA's procedures and serious questions will be asked about how this incident occurred.
The FIA seems to be responding to the tractor incident...by summoning Gasly for speeding under the safety car. Scapegoat?
Rain
In terms of getting this race going again, the rain is still falling at Suzuka and there is no update on a potential restart time. It is soaking wet, so it might be a while.
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There's one hour and 30 minutes left on the clock now. Doesn't seem to be any news on the weather situation, so we move.
Breaking news
The latest on the Gasly and tractor incident:
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/fia-stewards-to-investigate-gasly-for-red-flag-speeding-after-tractor-incident/10381958/
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/fia-stewards-to-investigate-gasly-for-red-flag-speeding-after-tractor-incident/10381958/
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There's clearly a lot of tension given events, but the Aston Martin mechanics are trying to keep the crowd upbeat by leading a Mexican wave from the pitlane. While down at McLaren a game of Uno has broken out.
There's an hour and 15 minutes to go, but let's be honest - we're probably not getting a race today are we? Stranger things have happened, of course, but it'd be a surprise...
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One F1 car is on the move, it is Sainz's broken Ferrari which has made it back to the paddock and is being wheeled down pitlane and into the garage.
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Here we go! The race will resume at 4:15pm local time (8:15am BST).
That's triggered frantic action in the pitlane as the drivers make their way to their cars. All cars will restart on wet tyres (obviously).
So I've got a bit less than 10 minutes to make a third coffee of the morning. As is customary, we're firing up the Aeropress.
We've returned with coffee, so let's do a quick order. It's Verstappen, Leclerc, Perez, Ocon and Hamilton in the top five, with Alonso, Russell, Ricciardo, Tsunoda and Schumacher completing the top half.
Assuming we get this race going in two minutes, it will leave around 48 minutes of action until the race gets timed out. How many laps will be completed and how many points can be awarded is anyone's guess.
Then it's Stroll in 11th, from Magnussen, Norris, Bottas, Latifi, Vettel, Zhou and Gasly. Sainz and Albon remain the retirees.
The race will indeed get going in one minute and it will be a rolling start.
Green flag
And as the sun peeks through the clouds, the cars peek out of the pitlane on wet tyres.
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"Track's really good," Hamilton says. He's up for it.
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"It's not too bad for now," Leclerc says of the conditions - Perez reckons it's getting better too.
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"Visibility is too poor when there are cars ahead," Bottas says, giving a view from lower down in the order.
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"I think it's raining a bit more now, isn't it?" Verstappen says. "At the moment, [visibility] is the bigger issue," adds Ricciardo.
"Safety car will enter the pits" - we're going to get going aren't we?
The lights went out pretty early on the safety car, so Verstappen's leading the pack around.
Pit stop
Latifi and Vettel opt to pit at the restart, both switching to inters. It's a gamble but will it work?
And we get going! It's lap 6, and Verstappen leads from Leclerc, with Perez, Ocon and Hamilton continuing in the top five.
Vettel and Latifi come close to contact at the pitlane exit and that incident has been noted by the FIA stewards. Vettel just got out ahead.
Pit stop
Norris and Bottas are the next two to pit for inter tyres a lap after Latifi and Vettel.
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Leclerc's sticking with Verstappen here, as Perez is a little way down on the front pair. Vettel's quick on the inter, but Hamilton says it's "extremes" for now.
The Vettel and Latifi unsafe release in the pits won't be investigated by the stewards having been noted. Crack on.
By: autosport.com
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