I spoke too soon. Marcus Ericsson, has just thrown his best qualifying result away by spinning at the final chicane. The Swede is beached in the gravel so the marshals head over and give him a push.

The Japanese Grand Prix Formula 1 procession completes it's first lap in just under three minutes. No one has gone off yet.

Lewis Hamilton's race engineer: "It's much wetter than you had before, be very careful." Hamilton replies: "The safety car needs to go faster."

Image source, McLaren

McLaren:, external Heavy rain in Suzuka, the pitlane's turned into a river. Need some McLaren wellies.

The Japanese Grand Prix is go, go, go! The safety car leads into the first corner, with Nico Rosberg heading the field.

I've got good news from our weatherman Ian Fergusson. He reports there is a dry phase behind this race which will ease fairly soon and looks quite prolonged. Hurrah!

Sean Sutton:, external Yes, the Japanese Grand Prix will start behind the safety car. Fair decision, but we do have a championship on the line here.

Chris Downs:, external If Japanese GP stops before 3/4 distance, and things remain as they are, then Rosberg will lead Hamilton by 0.5 points! Tight!

Carl Taylor:, external Enjoy the Rosberg 2-lap procession. He will complain it's too wet to race to get it stopped.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

"The rain in Suzuka is bad news for Williams. The team have looked a clear best of the rest behind Mercedes this weekend, but while the car has been increasingly impressive in dry conditions this year, it has tended to go backwards in the wet.

"Valtteri Bottas said: 'We know that we might struggle a little bit more in the wet but there now seems to be also a bit of a margin behind us so hopefully we can still fight for a podium if it's really wet. But I think like everyone and for the fans, it would be really nice if we could really have a good race so that the rain would not be too much. Let's hope for the best.'"

Here's the interview with Nico Rosberg that has just run on the race preview show on BBC One, where the German said the booing he received after the Belgian GP hurt him.

It's raining. A lot. "These are the worst conditions we've seen all day," says BBC F1 commentator Ben Edwards.

Image source, Getty Images

The fans are ready. The drivers are ready. Are you ready? Just four minutes until we're under way.

"It was very difficult," says Romain Grosjean of his reconnaissance lap. "Driving on my own was fine but when the Sauber was in front I couldn't even drive in a straight line. It's tough to race. I feel nervous."

Nathan Harley:, external This (rain) should make thing interesting

Katy:, external Starting under the safety car... me thinks this is going to be a dull race.

Karl:, external Can't believe I got up early to watch a safety car start!

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

"The big moves in the driver market made for an uncomfortable set of interviews after qualifying for McLaren drivers Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen, who were well aware that Red Bull's announcement that Sebastian Vettel was leaving meant it was extremely likely that Fernando Alonso was going to take one of their seats.

"Magnussen was asked whether Alonso would be a good addition to McLaren, and he replied: 'To be honest, I think he would be a good addition to any team,' before going on to say very nice things about Button, who 'deserves a lot of credit, maybe more than he gets'. Button, whose patience for these things is thinner after years of experience, was shorter. 'Hopefully we'll know soon so I can sort my life out,' he said."

Image source, Getty Images

Australian Daniel Ricciardo, 25, has been the star of the season and is the only driver other than Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg to stand on the top step in 2014. However, if there's one thing he could improve on, it's his starts, having dropped places on the first lap in four of the last five races.

"You have to be sharp, spontaneous and intelligent," says Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff on the decision to start the race behind the safety car. "In the rain it is very good to be out in front as you don't have much spray. It should be two hours of excitement."

We have a new feature for you this weekend to go with our new-look live coverage. It's a multiscreen viewing option, which will be available at the top of this page, along with the extra camera streams on offer. It's also featured on the Red Button.

It's tipping it down now at Suzuka. David Coulthard has popped his umbrella up, but I have to say it's too late. He's drenched. That's going to be one soggy commentary box.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

Image source, Getty Images

"How much are Ferrari losing now Fernando Alonso has decided to go? One man who knows is Williams performance chief Rob Smedley, who worked alongside the Spaniard for four years as Felipe Massa's race engineer at Ferrari and has observed Michael Schumacher from a similar distance. Smedley says: 'I have often gone on record to say that Fernando is the very best driver of his generation. I am a massive fan of his. I would go so far as to say if not ever. He is that good. He brings that much performance to the team.

"I am very much surprised they have parted ways. It was obviously a mutual agreement or disagreement. But that is their business. I hope for the sport he finds a top seat and I would echo his ambitions as well. I hope he does get another couple of championships under his belt before he retires, because he deserves it. He's that good.

"'I was working on the other side of your garage. To have Fernando as your team-mate, as most people have found out - Kimi Raikkonen has certainly found out this year - is not easy. You are talking about very good drivers who sit beside him on the other side of the garage. I don't think there is anyone in this paddock could live with him.'"

Mercedes co-team boss Toto Wolff says a safety car start is "a pretty sensible thing to do".