Summary

  • Rosberg on pole, Hamilton 2nd, Bottas 3rd

  • Vettel replaces Alonso at Ferrari, Alonso expected at McLaren

  • Hamilton crashes in final practice

  • Massa 4th, Alonso 5th, Ricciardo 6th

  • Magnussen 7th, Button 8th, Vettel 9th, Raikkonen 10th

  • Hamilton top in Q1, Rosberg top in Q2

  • Saubers, Force Indias, Toro Rossos out in Q2

  • Lotuses, Marussias, Caterhams out in Q1

  • Typhoon threatens Sunday's race

  • Watch qualifying and practice three again via Live Coverage tab

Live Reporting

Lawrence Barretto

  1. Lewis Hamilton crossed the line 0.197 seconds adrift of Nico Rosberg. Replays show that Hamilton locked up heavily at the hairpin.

  2. Pole position

    Nico RosbergReuters

    Nico Rosberg takes pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix.

  3. Chequered flag

    The chequered flag is out, but both Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton are flying!

  4. All 10 cars are out on track. Kimi Raikkonen used a set of options earlier in the session, so he's just doing the one run late in the closing stages.

  5. japanese gp

    It's time to head back to the garage for a fresh set of boots ready for one final push for pole. Five minutes to go.

    1) Ros 2) Ham 3) Bot 4) Mas 5) Alo 6) Mag 7) Ric 8) But 9) Vet 10) Rai

  6. MercedesMercedes

    Mercedes: "Two legends of the sport watching closely!"

  7. It's a disappointing lap from Lewis Hamilton, who crosses the line three tenths adrift of Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg. Valtteri Bottas is third, with Felipe Massa fourth and Fernando Alonso fifth.

  8. Nico Rosberg goes fastest with a 1:32.629, that's three tenths quicker than he's been today. What can his Mercedes team-mate do?

  9. There's a small lock-up for Valtteri Bottas at the hairpin, but it's still a good effort, the Finn clocking a 1:33.329, which is a tenth faster than he managed in Q2.

  10. Final qualifying starts

    Twelve minutes, 10 drivers and one pole position. Let's get down to business.

  11. japanese gp

    Valtteri Bottas heads down to the end of the pit-lane. Crikey, he's keen.

  12. In

    1) Nico Rosberg 2) Lewis Hamilton 3) Valtteri Bottas 4) Felipe Massa 5) Fernando Alonso 6) Kevin Magnussen 7) Daniel Ricciardo 8) Jenson Button 9) Kimi Raikkonen 10) Sebastian Vettel

  13. Out

    11) Jean-Eric Vergne 12) Sergio Perez 13) Daniil Kvyat 14) Nico Hulkenberg 15) Adrian Sutil 16) Esteban Gutierrez

  14. So it's 1-1 in the battle between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in this qualifying session. Who will win the deciding rubber in Q3? They were separated by just 0.032 seconds in Q2 and 0.060 secs in Q1.

  15. Second qualifying ends

    rosbergGetty Images

    Nico Rosberg finishes fastest in the second part of qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix.

  16. Chequered flag

    Out comes the chequered flag as Sebastian Vettel crosses the line to go seventh fastest. He's bumped down a place as his Red Bull team-mate Daniel Ricciardo goes sixth quickest.

  17. Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, Jean-Eric Vergne, Nico Hulkenberg, Esteban Gutierrez and Adrian Sutil are currently in the drop zone. Less than a minute to go.

  18. Everyone has headed back out on track apart from the two Mercedes, who have a comfortable eight tenths of a second lead over the field.

  19. There's a lull in the action as all 16 drivers head back to the pits before one final run.

  20. Get involved

    CK Chandu: Hope Jenson Button stays in for the shoot-out!

    Eduard Gascon: Cup of tea, #BBCF1 and ready to see Hamilton get pole as Vettel announces he's leaving for Ferrari.