Just over half-an-hour gone and there has not been a lot for fans to get too excited about at the moment...

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at Monza

“There have been some changes made to drainage at Suzuka following last year’s wet race and the crash involving Jules Bianchi. Drainage has been improved around the track, including at Dunlop, with the aim of reducing the chances of aquaplaning. 

"In addition, a new crane has been placed at Dunlop, to be used in the event of an accident rather than a recovery vehicle, a collision with which is what resulted in Bianchi’s fatal injuries.”

Image source, Getty Images

It is, of course, an emotional weekend, with Formula 1 returning to Suzuka for the first time since Jules Bianchi's fatal crash at the circuit last year.

In an interview with the BBC's sports editor Dan Roan, Jules' father describes how he finds it "too difficult" to watch F1.

Listen to the interview here.

Now Lewis Hamilton does decide to get involved, heading out on to the otherwise empty circuit to get a feel for the conditions. Hamilton won the race last year.

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer

"There have been an awful lot of conspiracy theories surrounding Mercedes’ mysterious lack of pace in Singapore, which is hardly surprising given the team lost a net two seconds from one weekend to the next. Lewis Hamilton said he did not believe in them, but Fernando Alonso dropped a fairly heavy hint that he thought something odd was going on when he was asked whether he expected the Singapore form to continue into Japan. 

"‘I think I will be surprised if this will be the normal performance of Mercedes,’ the Spaniard said. ‘We have all been here many years, and we never saw being one second faster all year long and being 1.5 seconds slower for another race. This is a mystery that we will probably never understand: but this is F1. You take it or you leave it.’” 

Nineteen drivers have been out for exploratory laps, just Lewis Hamilton yet to emerge with 20 minutes of the session gone.

Lotus are on the radio to Pastor Maldonado as he makes his way around the circuit. "Do not take any risks, there is a lot of standing water out there," comes the message.

Sage advice...

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at Suzuka

“If you habitually read a British newspaper, you will have been anticipating a retirement announcement from Jenson Button on Thursday. But it didn’t happen. Was Button really intending to announce his retirement and something made him stop, or had Fleet Street taken a bit of a flier based on some remarks the McLaren driver made in the heat of the moment after a depressing race in Singapore last Sunday? That is not yet clear. And neither is Button’s future.

“McLaren have said they ‘intend’ to keep him, but whether they actually do is a different matter. As for Button, he was giving mixed messages. He admitted he had no ‘joy in finishing 10th, or 14th’. And also: ‘I enjoy fighting for wins and podiums and I also enjoy the thought of it happening one day. If you think it is never going to happen and you’re going to be fighting at the front for years to come of course there is no interest in that.’

“But he did not say whether he believed McLaren could achieve that next year. ‘If I am in F1, I will 100% be with McLaren-Honda,’ he said. ‘This team will achieve in the future; I don’t know when. a lot is missing but the important thing is to understand what is missing and we do understand. It could happen very quickly or it could take a few more years, I don’t know the answer to that.’ What we do know is that talks are ongoing - but whether both parties want him to stay, or McLaren want him (and they have a contractual hold on him) and Button wants to quit, remains as opaque as the skies over Suzuka today.”

Several drivers have now been out for a lap, Jenson Button among them. Will this be his last weekend at Suzuka, should he decide to retire at the end of this season?

Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at Suzuka

“There is uncertainty over a lot of aspects of Formula 1 at the moment, and one of the biggest is the future of both Red Bull teams, who at the moment have no engine for next year. Their split with Renault is happening, although it has not been officially announced yet, Mercedes have declined Red Bull’s request to supply them and their only remaining option is Ferrari. But that deal is not done, and Red Bull have already made some complaints about the Italian company before even getting their engine - saying they will only accept one that is pretty much comparable with the works team and that they will pull out if they don’t get it. That rather leaves the team in limbo, and potentially four unemployed drivers.

“But Daniel Ricciardo said he had been reassured by team bosses Christian Horner and Helmut Marko things would be OK.’Christian and Helmut are confident we'll figure it out one way or another,’ Ricciardo said. ‘They're not promising me anything, but I'm confident they'll sort it out. I'm confident we'll get what we're after. If it gets later in the year and it still hasn't come, I'll make a little bit of noise, but I don't think it will get to that.’”

Red Bull's Daniil Kvyat, who has finished inside the top 10 in the last five races, joins Marcus Ericsson on the circuit, before Daniel Ricciardo joins him.

No, hang on. Marcus Ericsson fancies heading out and he tentatively makes his way round the circuit, spray kicking up behind his Sauber.

The rain is a little heavier now than it was around half an hour ago and no surprise to see no-one making a dash onto the circuit as the session gets under way.

It might only be practice, but the Japanese fans don't disappoint when it comes to crazy hats...

Image source, Getty Images

...even Fernando Alonso cannot help but get involved.

Image source, Getty Images

We've got coverage of first practice LIVE on BBC Two and online right now, with the action about to get under way.

Speaking of Romain Grosjean, Haas are set to announce, external their driver line-up next week for their debut season next year, and the Frenchman has been linked with a possible move to the American F1 team.

Who would you like to see drive for the team next season? Let us know via #bbcf1,, external text in on 81111 (UK only)  or have your say on the BBC Sport Facebook page.