How Japanese GP qualifying unfolded

Summary

Sunday's race coverage starts at 05:00 BST
Rosberg on pole, Hamilton 2nd, Raikkonen 3rd
Rosberg top in Q2, Williams, Toro Rossos and Alonso out
Vettel top in Q1, Button out with Saubers and Manors
Get involved & vote: #bbcf1: is Vettel good enough?

Live Reporting

Jamie Strickland

Button out in Q1published at 07:20 British Summer Time 8 October 2016
Button was one of the first drivers across the line on the final Q1 runs. He hauled the McLaren up to 13th place initially but then had to watch on as cars behind bettered his time.
Renault's Jolyon Palmer was among those to scabble out of trouble. Vatltteri Bottas's late lap then relegated Button to 17th.
Palmer's run was especially impressive. The Briton finished 15th - three places and two tenths ahead of team-mate Magnussen.
First qualifying endspublished at 07:19 British Summer Time 8 October 2016
Top five stay in pitspublished at 07:18 British Summer Time 8 October 2016
The two Ferraris, two Mercedes and the Force Indias have decided to skip these final runs.
Button under pressurepublished at 07:16 British Summer Time 8 October 2016
An important run coming up for Jenson Button here.
He's struggled for pace relative to McLaren team-mate Fernando Alonso all weekend, with a lack of grip the issue.
A Q1 elimination is not what's needed at Honda's home race,
Final runs coming uppublished at 07:15 British Summer Time 8 October 2016
All the cars are in the pits now and prepping for their final runs as the clock ticks down.
In the elimination zone at present are Carlos Sainz, Jenson Button, Pascal Wehrlein, Esteban Ocon, Jolyon Palmer and Marcus Ericsson.
Ferrari goes fastestpublished at 07:13 British Summer Time 8 October 2016
Sebastian Vettel lays down a marker for Ferrari with a 1:31.659 to go top from team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, who is 0.015secs back.
That drops Rosberg to third with Hamilton fourth, Hulkenberg's Force India fifth, then it's the two Red Bulls of Verstappen and Ricciardo.
Five minutes left in this session.
Hamilton baulked by a Renaultpublished at 07:11 British Summer Time 8 October 2016
We've just seen a replay of Lewis Hamilton having to lift through Turns 1 and 2 as he came upon a meandering Renault, which appeared to veer off the circuit in fright when he clocked the Mercedes.
Hamilton is unimpressed and says as much on the radio.
Early mistake for Rosberg - but still fliespublished at 07:05 British Summer Time 8 October 2016
Faultless so far this weekend but a first little error for the title leader there.
He runs wide on the exit of the Degners, putting a wheel on the grass, but you wouldn't know it as he goes on to punch in a 1:31.858 - the fastest time of the weekend.
Hamilton trails in his wake again - three tenths back.
Image source, Reuters
Postpublished at 07:03 British Summer Time 8 October 2016
Postpublished at 07:01 British Summer Time 8 October 2016
First qualifying startspublished at 07:01 British Summer Time 8 October 2016
Qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix is under way.
Weather flash - 'We don't know,' says Wolffpublished at 07:00 British Summer Time 8 October 2016
It's cloudier than in final practice, but the rain has so far been reluctant to fall in Suzuka.
Tom Clarkson grabs a word with Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff who admits his team simply don't know if it's going to rain in the next hour or so.
Anything could happen, folks.
Follow quali on 5 livepublished at 06:57 British Summer Time 8 October 2016
As ever the good folk at 5 live are in place to talk you through events.
Jack Nicholls is anchoring the coverage from Suzuka.
Listen in via the coverage tab above.
Postpublished at 06:55 British Summer Time 8 October 2016
Media caption,
Japanese GP: Kevin Magnussen talks big dogs and Hamilton's hair
Postpublished at 06:51 British Summer Time 8 October 2016
On this day, 8 October: Schumacher wins first title with Ferraripublished at 06:47 British Summer Time 8 October 2016
Today marks 16 years since Michael Schumacher kicked off an unprecedented period of sustained F1 success by clinching the 2000 world title with Ferrari.
Victory at Suzuka denied McLaren's Mika Hakkinen a third straight world crown while earning Ferrari their first since Jody Scheckter's 1979 triumph.
Schumacher went on to win the title with Ferrari five years in succession, adding to the two he picked up at Benetton in 1994 and 1995.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty Images
Hear, hearpublished at 06:45 British Summer Time 8 October 2016
Ain't no mountain high enough - Suzuka previewpublished at 06:39 British Summer Time 8 October 2016
Media caption,
F1: Japanese Grand Prix preview from atop Mount Fuji
Get Involved - is Vettel good enough to lead Ferrari?published at 06:35 British Summer Time 8 October 2016
#bbcf1
Peter Harris: Vettel is good enough to lead Ferrari ... it is whether the synergy with the team is right
Gean de Oliveira: Yes. But I think that under pressure or without the best equipment his performance isn't the same
Laura Leslie: The biggest virtue Vettel could have right now is patience. Schumi won WDC with Ferrari in his 5th season at team!
Image source, Getty Images
Happy birthday Huubpublished at 06:29 British Summer Time 8 October 2016
Today we wish a very happy 62nd birthday to Hubertus (Huub) Rothengatter.
The Dutchman racked up 25 starts between 1984 and 1986 for Spirit, Osella and Zakspeed, with a best finish of seventh place at the 1985 Australian Grand Prix.
He later went on to manage the career of F1 driver Jos Verstappen.
Special mention also for being the subject of this awesome picture. I mean, look at it. The car, the backdrop.
Pure, beautiful, evocative 1980s F1.
Image source, Getty Images