F1 Japanese GP qualifying - Start time, how to watch & more

F1 made its long awaited return to Suzuka after three years away due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with heavy rain acting as the key factor in both Friday practice sessions.

After Fernando Alonso topped first practice, Russell led a Mercedes 1-2 from team-mate Lewis Hamilton in FP2 as the German manufacturer impressed despite struggling in the rain in Singapore last weekend. 

Max Verstappen ended the second practice session third fastest and directly ahead of Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez, while Verstappen’s closest title rival Charles Leclerc could only manage 11th in FP2.

Verstappen holds a 104-point lead over Leclerc at the top of the F1 standings with five races to go, while Red Bull team-mate Perez remains in contention 106 points off the Dutch driver after his victory in Singapore.

In short, Verstappen needs to be 112 points clear at the end of the Japanese GP to clinch the title with four races to spare. Therefore, Verstappen must outscore Leclerc by eight points and Perez by six points to take the title in Japan.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB18

Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images

How can Verstappen can seal the F1 world title at the Japanese GP?

If Verstappen wins and sets the fastest lap he is champion
If Verstappen wins without the fastest lap and Leclerc finishes lower than second
If Verstappen finishes second, Leclerc finishes fifth without the fastest lap or sixth with the fastest lap or lower, Perez finishes fifth or lower
If Verstappen finishes third with the fastest lap, Leclerc finishes sixth or lower and Perez finishes fifth or lower
If Verstappen finishes third without the fastest lap, Leclerc finishes seventh or lower and Perez finishes fifth or lower
If Verstappen finishes fourth, Leclerc finishes eighth or lower or Perez finishes seventh without the fastest lap or lower
If Verstappen finishes fifth, Leclerc finishes ninth or lower and Perez finishes eighth or lower
If Verstappen finishes sixth, Leclerc finishes 11th or lower and Perez is ninth or lower

Any alternative results which don’t fit into these multiple scenarios and the title fight rolls on to the United States GP.

What time does qualifying start for the F1 Japanese Grand Prix?

Qualifying for the Japanese GP starts at 3pm local time (7am BST), using the regular Q1, Q2 and Q3 knockout session format.

Date: Saturday 8th October 2022
Start time: 3pm local time – 7am BST

How can I watch Formula 1?

In the United Kingdom Formula 1 is broadcast live on Sky Sports, with highlights shown on Channel 4 several hours after the race has finished. Live streaming through NOW is also available in the UK.

Sky Sports F1, which broadcasts the F1 races, can be added as part of the Sky Sports channels which costs £20 a month for new customers. Sky Sports can also be accessed through NOW with a one-off day payment of £11.98p or a month membership of £33.99p per month.

How can I watch F1 Japanese GP qualifying?

In the United Kingdom every F1 practice, qualifying and race is broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event, with Japanese GP qualifying coverage starting at 6:00am BST on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event.

• Channel: Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event
• Start time: 6:00am BST 8th October 2022

Autosport will be running a live text coverage of qualifying here. 

Kevin Magnussen, Haas VF-22

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / Motorsport Images

When can I watch the highlights of F1 Japanese GP qualifying?

In the United Kingdom Channel 4 is broadcasting highlights of qualifying for the Japanese GP at 10:50am BST on Saturday. The full programme will run for 90 minutes, covering both qualifying and wrapping up the major talking points of the race weekend so far.

For the entire 2022 F1 season, Channel 4 will broadcast highlights of every qualifying and race of each event. The highlights will also be available on Channel 4’s on demand catch up services.

•  Channel: Channel 4
• Start time: 10:50am BST 8th October 2022

Will F1 Japanese GP qualifying be on the radio?

Live radio coverage of every practice, qualifying and race for the 2022 F1 season will be available on the BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC 5 Live Sports Extra or via the BBC Sport website.

Coverage of Japanese GP qualifying will start at 7:00am BST on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and the BBC Sounds app.

What's the weather forecast for qualifying at Suzuka?

Warm and dry weather conditions are forecast for Saturday for the start of qualifying at Suzuka, with a low chance of rain. The temperature is set to be 25 degrees Celsius at the start of qualifying, three degrees colder than Singapore GP qualifying last time out.

Carlos Sainz, Ferrari F1-75

Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images

Japanese Grand Prix FP1 result

Cla	Driver	Chassis	Laps	Time	Gap	Interval
1	Fernando Alonso	Alpine	7	1'42.248
2	Carlos Sainz	Ferrari	15	1'42.563	0.315	0.315
3	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	16	1'42.634	0.386	0.071
4	Esteban Ocon	Alpine	5	1'43.022	0.774	0.388
5	Kevin Magnussen	Haas	15	1'43.258	1.010	0.236
6	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	4	1'43.362	1.114	0.104
7	Mick Schumacher	Haas	13	1'43.761	1.513	0.399
8	Lando Norris	McLaren	7	1'43.889	1.641	0.128
9	Valtteri Bottas	Alfa Romeo	13	1'43.969	1.721	0.080
10	Sergio Perez	Red Bull	4	1'44.234	1.986	0.265
11	Zhou Guanyu	Alfa Romeo	15	1'44.429	2.181	0.195
12	Daniel Ricciardo	McLaren	8	1'44.486	2.238	0.057
13	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	6	1'44.558	2.310	0.072
14	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	10	1'44.570	2.322	0.012
15	Alex Albon	Williams	9	1'44.791	2.543	0.221
16	Pierre Gasly	AlphaTauri	12	1'44.878	2.630	0.087
17	Nicholas Latifi	Williams	11	1'45.424	3.176	0.546
18	George Russell	Mercedes	4	1'46.103	3.855	0.679
19	Yuki Tsunoda	AlphaTauri	16	1'46.192	3.944	0.089
20	Sebastian Vettel	Aston Martin	8	1'48.090	5.842	1.898
View full results

Japanese Grand Prix FP2 result

Cla	Driver	Chassis	Laps	Time	Gap	Interval
1	George Russell	Mercedes	23	1'41.935
2	Lewis Hamilton	Mercedes	22	1'42.170	0.235	0.235
3	Max Verstappen	Red Bull	24	1'42.786	0.851	0.616
4	Sergio Perez	Red Bull	26	1'42.834	0.899	0.048
5	Kevin Magnussen	Haas	17	1'43.187	1.252	0.353
6	Carlos Sainz	Ferrari	23	1'43.204	1.269	0.017
7	Fernando Alonso	Alpine	14	1'43.533	1.598	0.329
8	Valtteri Bottas	Alfa Romeo	20	1'43.733	1.798	0.200
9	Esteban Ocon	Alpine	13	1'43.884	1.949	0.151
10	Zhou Guanyu	Alfa Romeo	17	1'44.525	2.590	0.641
11	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari	10	1'44.709	2.774	0.184
12	Nicholas Latifi	Williams	16	1'44.962	3.027	0.253
13	Alex Albon	Williams	15	1'45.039	3.104	0.077
14	Yuki Tsunoda	AlphaTauri	27	1'45.257	3.322	0.218
15	Sebastian Vettel	Aston Martin	24	1'45.261	3.326	0.004
16	Lando Norris	McLaren	11	1'45.885	3.950	0.624
17	Daniel Ricciardo	McLaren	9	1'46.030	4.095	0.145
18	Lance Stroll	Aston Martin	21	1'46.776	4.841	0.746
19	Pierre Gasly	AlphaTauri	13	1'47.109	5.174	0.333
20	Mick Schumacher	Haas	0
View full results