Lotus:, external Rally set-up being tested right there by Pastor. We like to make sure everything is tested.

Pastor Maldonado is in the gravel now, but the Lotus driver manages to keep it out of the barriers.

Allan McNish
BBC Radio 5 live analyst

"It's all about, I think, who makes the least mistakes will win the championship."

Mercedes:, external That wasn't in the plan! We have #LH44 in the barrier. Busy lunchtime ahead here.

Zorro:, external Is it unlucky for Hulkenberg? A seat at red bull opens and he doesn't get it?

The Pob:, external IF #Ferrari get it right eventually, Vettel is young enough to have a great run of championships just as Schumacher did.

Janine Pingree:, external I think Kevin has great potential & don't want to lose him either! Can we run 3 cars next year Bernie?! #McLaren

It was all going so well for Lewis Hamilton of late, but this will certainly hamper him going into qualifying, which starts at 06:00 BST.

The Briton, who was just starting his first flying lap on the medium tyres, ran wide at Turn One. That destabilised the car and sucked him towards the gravel and then the barriers, making head-on contact.

Lewis Hamilton: "In the wall, front left." His engineer replies: "Copy that Lewis, we see the pictures."

Would you believe it? Lewis Hamilton has hit the barriers at Turn One.

Nico Rosberg needs to apply some opposite lock on the exit of Spoon corner but he still does enough to go quickest with a 1:33.228, one second quicker than anyone else.

It's a disappointing lap for Daniel Ricciardo, who can only improve to the fourth fastest time on the medium tyres. BBC F1 analyst Allan McNish suggests the Australian lost around half a second in the middle sector when he ran wide at the Degner corner.

Jennie Gow
BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter

"Vettel literally out of Red Bull."

It's time for the medium tyres to make an appearance. They're the option rubber this weekend and will be used in the closing stages of qualifying.

"I think it's a great move for Seb," says 1992 world champion Nigel Mansell. "He's won four titles with Red Bull and now he wants to go and win with another manufacturer."

Image source, Sauber F1

Sauber:, external Great to see Adrian's fans in front of our garage.

Jenson Button's girlfriend Jessica Michibata doesn't look to happy as she stands at the back of the McLaren garage tapping away on her phone. Does she know something we don't? Is Button's career in F1, which started way back in 2000, all but over with Fernando Alonso set to rejoin McLaren?

Sebastian Vettel's session is over, his race engineer informing him that they have an engine problem. That's not the first time the German has heard that this season...

Nigel Mansell, who had a seat fitting for the Williams FW11B this morning ahead of demo laps at Suzuka tomorrow providing the weather behaves, is in the Williams garage following the action.

James Goodall:, external Think this is all bad news for Button. Is a shame. Would be good for McLaren to have Alonso/Button team to develop the Honda Package.

Old Nicodemus:, external I don't think Button will want Alonso as a team mate So if Alonso goes to McLaren then Button will be off.

Image source, Lotus F1/Twitter

Lotus:, external Romain heads back in for a slipperiness evaluation. Turn involuntary-drift dial down by lots please.

With 30 minutes gone, there's still 30 minutes to go. Esteban Gutierrez almost hit the wall, Marcus Ericsson spun at the chicane while Lewis Hamilton leads the way on the timesheets.

All that after Red Bull announced Sebastian Vettel is leaving at the end of the season, having agreed a deal with Ferrari. Fernando Alonso is leaving the Italian team and is set to rejoin McLaren.

Here's how they stand: 1) Ham 2) Ros 3) Alo 4) Mas 5) Ric 6) Bot 7) Ver 8) But 9) Rai 10) Mag