Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at Suzuka

“Does Jenson Button want to retire from F1? Investigations so far this weekend would suggest no, he does not. Do McLaren want to keep him? That’s a different question. It seems they probably do - but whether the team and driver can agree the basis on which that happens, in terms of contract, salary etc, is another matter. 

"Button promised on Thursday a resolution to the uncertainty ‘soon’. But asked how soon, he added: ‘How long is a piece of a string?' It seems this may drag on for a while.”

Image source, Getty Images

Being in Japan appears to be an opportunity for the drivers to get up to some unusual things. Not quite sure what Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button are up to here...

Image source, Getty Images

...oh and here's Daniel Ricciardo posing with some Power Ranger-types. Naturally.

Second practice gets under way in just under 20 minutes and all the action is live on BBC Two and online.

There will also be commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at Suzuka

Image source, Romain Grosjean

"Lotus driver Romain Grosjean is making light of the team’s rather difficult situation here in Japan. The team have no hospitality tent because of unpaid bills from last year and therefore no offices, other than for the engineers in the garage, and nowhere for the mechanics to eat. 

"Grosjean, whose deal to join the new US-based Haas team is expected to be confirmed next week, is posting pictures on Twitter of himself and mechanics sitting on boxes in the paddock and making jokes about the mechanics enjoying eating fast food: ‘We have some friends around the paddock who are helping us get some food. It is not going to stop us trying to get a good result. The guys are not so unhappy having pizza and burgers.’ 

"It’s all very admirable, and confirms the impression Grosjean is an all-round good guy. But it is a sad reflection of the situation the team find themselves in as the deal for Renault to buy them drags on and on and on. Will it ever happen? That remains to be seen.”

While most teams are able to shuffle off to the warmth of their hospitality areas between practice sessions for a spot of lunch, there was no such luck for Lotus. 

The British-based constructor face an uncertain future amid mounting money problems, and they were locked out of their hospitality tent on Thursday and Friday.

Jolyon Palmer had an interesting solution to the problem...

The answer to that question is...not quite. It did appear that the rain had stopped but I'm seeing a fair few umbrellas and miserable faces in the crowd at Suzuka. The circuit does look drier than it did a few hours ago, however.

In case you missed first practice, Toro Rosso's Carlos Sainz was the man to top the timesheet, but he was just one of 12 drivers who set timed laps because of the conditions.

Image source, Getty Images

Hello and welcome to our coverage of second practice for the Japanese Grand Prix.

The rain put paid to hopes of witnessing some decent track action in first practice at Suzuka, but has it subsided for the second session?

So that's the end of a very wet first practice in Japan. What did we learn? Not a lot, but we might get a bigger clue as to whether Mercedes are back on the pace in FP2, when the conditions are set to be drier.

That takes place at 06:00 BST, and we'll be firing up our live coverage half an hour before. 

I'll leave you with Andrew Benson's report. Have a read, have a nap, then join us again in just under a couple of hours.

That, by the way, was the first time Carlos Sainz has topped a practice session in his short F1 career to date.

1) Sainz 2) Kvyat 3) Rosberg 4) Vettel 5) Hamilton 6) Verstappen 7) Raikkonen 8) Massa 9) Ericsson 10) Bottas 11) Nasr 12) Button

*Eight drivers did not complete timed laps

One minute left and just 12 timed laps on the board. There's not been much action from Lotus, with both Pastor Maldonado and Jolyon Palmer having managed one lap each.

Lewis Hamilton decides to head back out for a few laps before the clock hits zero and he goes fifth fastest with 1:50.722.

Carlos Sainz leads the way ahead of Daniil Kvyat, Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel and then Hamilton.

Meanwhile, both Sebastian Vettel and Felipe Massa have had a slide at Spoon Curve as the rain continues to get heavier.

Image source, Getty Images

Into the final 10 minutes of first practice as Lewis Hamilton returns to the Mercedes garage after an out lap. 

Big drops of rain on Felipe Nasr's onboard camera. Looks like the conditions are getting worse.

Not long after setting the fastest time of the session so far, Carlos Sainz reports that he is "aquaplaning everywhere" over team radio.

Just 10 drivers have completed timed laps as Lewis Hamilton climbs back into his Mercedes and prepares to return to the circuit.