Nigel Mansell is rocking a sensational white bin-bag style raincoat. The 1992 world champion, who will conduct the podium interviews, reports that it will be a safety car start. I repeat, it's going to be a safety start.

What are the conditions like out there? "The spray is unbelievable," says McLaren's Jenson Button. "It is never nice. I don't know what will happen. Hopefully we can start behind the safety car."

Nick:, external Dear the F1 world, this weather is considered as a bright sunny day in Manchester.

Simon Davies:, external Cup of tea, jam donuts, Japanese GP. Good morning!

Breakfast of champions that, Simon.

David Coulthard grabs an umbrella as the rain starts to intensify. Just 14 minutes until the start.

Image source, Getty Images

Japan's Kamui Kobayashi finished third for Sauber in his last Japanese GP start for Sauber back in 2012, and also finished seventh in his rookie year in 2010, when he made more overtaking moves than any other driver in the race (four, in a pre-DRS era).

A repeat performance is unlikely this year with his Caterham well off the pace and some serious ground needs making up after he crashed in second practice.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

"Felipe Massa is a straightforward kind of guy, and he helped cut through some of the fog surrounding Fernando Alonso's situation on Saturday. The Brazilian said his former team-mate had wanted to go to Mercedes, but that this was not an option because Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were unlikely to move. 'In my opinion, nothing will happen with Mercedes,' Massa said. 'To go to Mercedes is what Fernando wanted definitely. He will try everything he can to go there but I don't think he will have a chance to go to Mercedes next year. So in my opinion the only place is McLaren.

"But honestly McLaren is not on the best moment and these cars are so complicated so I don't believe Honda will arrive and have the best engine straight away. It will not be easy for them. so Fernando is going to a team he has no idea where it is going to be. He is thinking forward to the possibility to win the championship or maybe there will be another change at the end of next year.'"

"Could Alonso take a sabbatical, Massa was asked? 'To stay one year out is not nice and it is not nice for F1 either to lose him for one year. He is a top driver, very famous, very important for F1. It can happen, because I know Fernando very well but I don't know if it would be positive for F1 or him.'"

The rain has reduced to a light drizzle, which means the chances of starting the race under the safety car are diminishing. That'll make it more exciting into Turn One.

Image source, Red Bull

Red Bull:, external Final preparations as Seb and Daniel Ricciardo head to the track.

Ferrari must have been hoping for rain all season judging by the lack of pace in their car. Can they capitalise? "The rain will make this race very interesting, a lottery," says Ferrari team boss Marco Mattiacci. "There could be some surprise."

When asked about Alonso's future, Mattiacci said: "At the moment, you guys know F1 better than me so I cannot say anything about Alonso. There is a lot of work to be done and we are at the beginning."

Force India's Nico Hulkenberg is asked if he wants to try intermediate tyres. "No," comes the reply. Definitive.

Image source, Getty Images

Nico Rosberg has never finished higher than fifth at Suzuka, nor has he ever qualified in the top-five in six starts.

Eddie Jordan
BBC F1 chief analyst

"Nico Rosberg was outstanding in qualifying given what happened in Singapore. He's very strong psychologically. Lewis made a mistake and he broke first. That was a blow mentally and it shows further signs this battle will be titanic."

Image source, Getty Images

This season's title battle has been a two-horse race - Lewis Hamilton v his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg.

If Rosberg, who trails Hamilton by three points with five races remaining, wins the title this season, only two other drivers in the history of the sport will have started more races before winning their first F1 World Championship.

They are 2009 world champion Jenson Button (169 starts) and Nigel Mansell (176 starts), who triumphed in 1992 (pictured).

Sergio Perez is off again! The Mexican cuts the grass before rejoining.

David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator

"I'd be nervous because it is so difficult to see. But in wet conditions you have a chance to go from the back to the front."

Image source, Force India

Force India:, external Making our way to the grid...

Daire Rush:, external It looks very wet out there on the recce laps.

Le Radds:, external Full wets in Suzuka... This could be interesting! I imagine at least 1 driver will crash on their sighting lap.

We have a car off track! The rear end of Sergio Perez's Force India steps out as the car aquaplanes and spins him round. The Mexican, who wasn't going very fast, reacts well, bounces across the gravel and rejoins. He'll be hoping he hasn't damaged the underside of the car.

Image source, Getty Images

We have not had rainfall during a race since the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix - 33 races since. That run is about to come to an end.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

"Rules on races being called off: need to do two laps (even behind safety car) for half points; 75% distance (40 laps here) for full points."