Summary

  • Max Verstappen takes Japanese GP pole

  • McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri second and third

  • Ferraris of Leclerc and Hamilton fourth and eighth

  • Lawson and Tsunoda qualify 14th and 15th respectively

  • Another grass fire brings out red flag in Q2 after two in final practice

  • Listen to 5 Sports Extra commentary by selecting audio tab (UK only)

  • Get involved: #bbcf1

Live Reporting

Gary Rose

  1. Alice Powell
    British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    The fires are not ideal to say the least. The fire marshals and the safety team have been out right up to the start of qualifying filling up buckets, anything they can fill with water, they are out there just soaking the grass.

    They are trying to make sure it's damp enough so if a spark was to fly off the car, it doesn't send the grass on fire.

  2. First qualifying starts

    Off we go with the first part of qualifying.

  3. Tune in

    A reminder that qualifying lasts for one hour and you can listen to live commentary via BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and this page.

  4. The grass around the track has been watered by marshals between today's sessions. Will it solve the random fires? We'll find out soon enough...

    A marshal waters the grass alongside the track at SuzukaGetty Images
    A marshal throws a bucket of water on the track at SuzukaGetty Images

  5. Weather update before qualifying

    Ian Fergusson
    BBC weather forecaster

    Air temp is 14.7C & the track 35.5C. A southeasterly breeze, with gusts to 17mph in the past hour. Dry; FIA official risk of rain is 0% for this session.

    Risk of showers for tomorrow's race remains at 40% in latest guidance.

  6. Cherry Blossom at Japanese GPGetty Images

    It is peak cherry blossom season in Japan, which makes for plenty of pretty pictures around Suzuka.

  7. Drivers' standings

    .

    Here's how it looks at the top of the drivers' standings as Lando Norris leads the way.

    Norris secured pole position at the opening race of the season in Australia, with McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri taking pole in China a week later.

  8. Creating the atmosphere

    The fans are part of what make the Japanese Grand Prix as they arrive with all manner of creative costumes and signs.

    Fans at Japanese GPGetty Images
    Fans at Japanese GPGetty Images
    Fans at Japanese GPGetty Images

  9. .Getty Images

    Of the current drivers, Lewis Hamilton has the most pole positions in Japan with four (2007-2008, 2017-2018).

    Michael Schumacher has the most overall with six (1994-1995, 1998-2002, 2004).

  10. .Getty Images

    This has been Max Verstappen's race in recent times as he secured pole position and then converted it into a race win in the last three editions.

    Will there be a new polesitter today?

  11. Watering the grass

    How have they been trying to deal with grass fires that have disrupted sessions so far?

    Various things have been attempted including cutting the grass in areas where sparks from under cars have caused fires and, in the spell between final practice and qualifying, they've been filling anything they could - including traffic cones - with water to wet as much of the grass as possible.

    Just when you think you've seen it all in Formula 1...

  12. Firefighters pour water on a grass fire by the side of the track at SuzukaReuters

    Hello!

    McLaren have dominated the season so far and that looks like continuing in Japan after they topped all three practice sessions.

    But repeated grass fires on the edge of the track have disrupted the past two sessions, somewhat scuppering the teams' preparations.

    Could they again play a part in qualifying, which is coming up in half an hour...

  13. Norris fastest as grass fires continue

    Andrew Benson
    BBC F1 correspondent at Suzuka

    Lando NorrisGetty Images

    Lando Norris led Oscar Piastri to a McLaren one-two in final practice at the Japanese Grand Prix as trackside fires continued to be a concern.

    The session was stopped twice because grass beside the track caught alight, once early in the session and once seven minutes before the scheduled end.

    The issue remains a concern for the race as the latest fires happened despite mitigation measures that had been put in place after Friday’s practice session was also red-flagged twice for the same reason.

    The second fire prevented some drivers from finishing their soft tyre qualifying simulation runs.

    Norris, who twice ran wide at the tricky Degner Two corner, headed Piastri by just 0.026 seconds as the fight between the two McLaren drivers remained close and intense.

    Mercedes driver George Russell was third, 0.112secs off the pace, and ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.

    Leclerc was one of the drivers whose final run was curtailed - he had been impeded by Carlos Sainz's Williams in the Esses on his first flying lap and the fire brought the session to an end before he could go again.

    Verstappen was continuing to complain about his car’s lack of front grip, at one stage saying it was “undriveable”.

    The four-time champion was 0.288secs and four places ahead of new team-mate Yuki Tsunoda in ninth place.

    Albon was seventh from Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and the Racing Bull of Isack Hadjar completed the top 10.

    Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso down in 15th was another driver not to get in a lap on the soft tyre.

  14. Right, we are going to take a breather but we will be back with build-up to qualifying at 06:30 BST. I'll leave you with Andrew Benson's report from final practice.

  15. As practice comes to an end it is McLaren who have dominated once again. They have won the first two races of the season and their good form looks set to continue this weekend. That's despite some scrappy laps at times.

  16. FP3 - the rest

    11) Sainz

    12) Lawson

    13) Antonelli

    14) Doohan

    15) Alonso

    16) Bearman

    17) Bortoleto

    18) Ocon

    19) Stroll

    20) Hulkenberg

  17. FP3 - top 10

    1) Norris

    2) Piastri

    3) Russell

    4) Leclerc

    5) Verstappen

    6) Hamilton

    7) Albon

    8) Gasly

    9) Tsunoda

    10) Hadjar

  18. chequered flag

    Chequered flag

    The session does not resume so Lando Norris finishes fastest in final practice.

  19. Many of the drivers are primed to head back out at any moment with just over a minute to go.

  20. Alice Powell
    British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    I would be surprised if we get this session under way with just under five minutes remaining.