Carlos Sainz isn't yet at one with the Williams and he runs wide, with all four wheels on the grass briefly.

Image source, Getty Images

Charles Leclerc improves to split the McLarens. He's just 0.015s slower than Oscar Piastri.

Harry Benjamin
BBC F1 Commentator

Jack Doohan is hoping to get as much experience under his belt in this FP3 session of this challenging Suzuka track.

An untidy lap from Lando Norris as he runs wide at Degner 2. Despite that the McLarens are going well with Oscar Piastri fastest after a 1:28.768 and Norris is just 0.050s slower.

Image source, Reuters

Lewis Hamilton goes second fastest, 0.165s slower than Charles Leclerc.

Yuki Tsunoda is on a different programme at the moment as he is out on a set of hards and he goes fifth fastest.

Image source, Getty Images

There's a few qualifying runs happening as Charles Leclerc, also on softs, now goes fastest with 1:29.107.

Lando Norris is on softs and he goes quickest of all with 1:29.457.

A short break - but a break nonetheless - as the session gets back under way.

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

This will be a really big concern for the organisers and the FIA.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

The homemade signs from the fans at Suzuka are always charming and heartwarming. A classic example here aimed at cheering up Liam Lawson after his demotion from Red Bull to Racing Bulls.

And that's without getting into the big wheel headwear.

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

This is not good because if we get this in the race we can't be stopping every five to 10 minutes to extinguish fires.

It's not roasting hot out there, the track temperature is 38 degrees, we're used to racing in much hotter temperatures but clearly the grass is very dry.

The grass is smouldering away down by the chicane. There was a hope that the wind blowing in a different direction to yesterday would lower the risk of the grass catching fire from the sparks from under cars, but it has taken just a few minutes to prove that isn't the case.

Red flagpublished at 03:37 British Summer Time 5 April

03:37 BST 5 April

Oh we have a red flag! Everyone will have been hoping to avoid them today but here we are with one seven minutes in. The grass is on fire again...

There's a problem in the cockpit for Isack Hadjar and he has to return to the pits after one lap.

Alice Powell
British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I think the McLarens are the favourites heading into qualifying.

Plenty of teams missed out on racing simulation runs yesterday so that's the focus for some of them in the early stages of this session.

Max Verstappen is on the hard compound and he leads the way on the timesheet early doors with 1:30.397.

Jack Doohan is determined to make up for lost time as he heads straight out.

He managed less than 10 minutes yesterday before crashing.

The clock is counting down from one hour as we get under way with final practice.

The Japanese Grand Prix was held in the autumn until last year, when it was moved to avoid typhoon season and to improve Formula 1's sustainability with regard to travel and logistics.

A statement from F1's governing body, the FIA, said: "While we continue to look into the fires that occurred during FP2, our focus before [Saturday] will be on taking pre-emptive measures.

"The grass has been cut as short as possible, and loose, dried grass has been removed from affected areas. Prior to [Saturday's] sessions, the grass will be dampened, and specific response teams will be stationed around the track."

Image source, Getty Images

Alpine's Jack Doohan spoke to Sky Sports before FP3: "I'm feeling good, it's a new day, it's warmer which I think we're all grateful for. The wind has switched around so I think [it will be] almost a new sort of circuit. It's going to be a good day."