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Formula 1
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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The gap between Verstappen and Leclerc is bordering on 10-second territory now, as the Ferrari is beginning to struggle more. Perez is closing in on Leclerc too.
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"Others struggling with the front as well," Hamilton is told, as it seems there's a bit of wear on the inters to contend with.
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"Brakes are the same as Singapore quali," Russell reports on team radio. On that day he seriously struggled to control his car in the damp conditions, so is a repeat occurring? He's hassling home hero Tsunoda for 10th.
Leclerc's pace has dropped off a touch, which has allowed Verstappen to open a gap of 6.5s as of lap 14.
Pit stop
Admiration goes to Haas and Schumacher for the wet tyre and waiting for a safety car plan but it hasn't worked. The German finally pits having dropped down to 10th and is now last and a long way back.
Vettel is the big winner with the early inters switch, as he overtakes wet tyre-shod Schumacher to move up to sixth place.
Stunning battle with Ocon, Schumacher and Hamilton. Ocon gets by the Haas at Spoon, and Hamilton can't find a way through 130R - but gets past Schumacher at the next corner.
Stopwatch
And it's a 1m44.489s for Leclerc on lap 10, so there's certainly some success in his endeavours.
Stopwatch
It's a 1m45.148s for Verstappen, who's absolutely loving these conditions. Leclerc's trying to catch him.
Pit stop
Zhou bites the bullet and pits for intermediates and comes out in last place. It turns out the early inters move was the gamble worth going for.
Verstappen passes Schumacher to regain the lead, as Leclerc also moves past the Haas.
Norris is the next to set a new fastest lap on the inters. Only Schumacher and Zhou remain on the wet tyres and are duly being swallowed up by the pack.
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Alonso and Ricciardo come in, but Schumacher's staying out on the wets. "We're hoping for the safety car," says Gary Gannon, as Haas takes a punt.
Stopwatch
A train of drivers pit three laps into the restart, while Vettel, the first to pit remember, sets a new fastest lap of 1m48.410s - four seconds quicker than the leaders on wets!
Pit stop
And here come the leaders - Verstappen and Leclerc in from the lead at the end of lap 7. Double-stack for Red Bull, almost, as Mercedes brings in both cars too.
The Vettel and Latifi unsafe release in the pits won't be investigated by the stewards having been noted. Crack on.
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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.
Pit stop
Norris and Bottas are the next two to pit for inter tyres a lap after Latifi and Vettel.
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.
And we get going! It's lap 6, and Verstappen leads from Leclerc, with Perez, Ocon and Hamilton continuing in the top five.
Pit stop
Latifi and Vettel opt to pit at the restart, both switching to inters. It's a gamble but will it work?
The lights went out pretty early on the safety car, so Verstappen's leading the pack around.
"Safety car will enter the pits" - we're going to get going aren't we?
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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.
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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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"It's not too bad for now," Leclerc says of the conditions - Perez reckons it's getting better too.
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"Track's really good," Hamilton says. He's up for it.
Green flag
And as the sun peeks through the clouds, the cars peek out of the pitlane on wet tyres.
The race will indeed get going in one minute and it will be a rolling start.
Then it's Stroll in 11th, from Magnussen, Norris, Bottas, Latifi, Vettel, Zhou and Gasly. Sainz and Albon remain the retirees.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Here we go! The race will resume at 4:15pm local time (8:15am BST).
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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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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...
By: autosport.com
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