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?
Esteban Gutierrez had the track to himself for a few minutes there and was enjoying it right up to the point he span his Haas away in the Esses...
We were then treated to the unusual sight of an F1 car trundling backwards down the middle of the track for a few hundred yards before Gutierrez righted the Haas and set off again.
I guess if you have an F1 track to yourself you might as well make the most of it.
Image source, Getty Images
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at Suzuka
Four-time champion Sebastian Vettel will have to "earn" his place at Ferrari beyond next season, team boss Maurizio Arrivabene has said.
A decision on whether to extend the deal, among the most lucrative in Formula 1, would be made during 2017, he added.
"Sebastian has a contract with us. We work together his year and next year. Then during next year we'll see," he said.
"Each of us has goals. So it is only right that anyone, no matter who it is, earns their place and their salary."
Fernando Alonso duly sets the first time of the session, a 1:35.953 on the medium tyre.
Image source, EPA"It's unpredictable conditions as always at Suzuka but we could get rain for qualifying," says the BBC's Tom Clarkson.
However, our man adds that no rain is expected for this session, despite the menacing clouds.
Erm...
Quiet is the word. No one out there and no times set
As I say that Fernando Alonso trundles down to the end of the pit lane in the McLaren, executes a practice start and sets off for a lap on the medium tyre
Lewis Hamilton finishes his run and comes on the radio to tell his team he wants "a really quick turnaround when I get back - there's a lot of dark clouds around".
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at Suzuka
It has rained overnight, it was damp underfoot at breakfast and the forecast suggests there will be more rain around the time of qualifying at 1500 local. This will only increase the level of confidence around Red Bull that they can put Mercedes under pressure here. Not on one lap in the dry, but in the race - their long runs were strong on Friday - and especially if it is wet. “We normally are good in the wet so it might help us get a front row,” said Daniel Ricciardo, brilliant in the only wet race so far this season in Monaco. “I am ready if it is wet. I do like this place, it is fun in both conditions, so we will do what we can. If we get the right car balance, normally in the rain we are quite strong. For us it will be very nice. In the wet we have more of a chance to do a good job.”
Third practice is under way. Intermediate tyres the order of the day on the damp track.
Just a reminder that we've got live commentary of this session over on Radio 5 live Sports Extra.
Click on the above tab to listen in.
Andrew Benson
Chief F1 writer at Suzuka
Lewis Hamilton ended Friday practice just 0.072 seconds slower than team-mate Nico Rosberg. Hamilton said he had had a “really good day”, adding: “I am very happy with the car, there is time for me to find in myself, that is what I am going to try to unlock tonight and bring tomorrow.” How much time? Well, he was remarkably explicit about that. “It’s little bits here and there,” he said. “The first sector is OK but usually I am quicker in the first sector so I have to find 0.1secs there. The middle sector I would say at least 0.15-0.2secs and the last sector another 0.1secs. That’s where I feel I should be and that’s what I am going to try to find.” In other words, he felt he ought to be the best part of 0.5secs quicker than Rosberg around Suzuka. The German has been on pole here for the last two years. Game on.
You probably don't need me to spell it out, but all eyes - as ever - are on the Mercedes pair this weekend.
Nico Rosberg holds a 23-point lead in the drivers' standings after team-mate Lewis Hamilton's dramatic retirement in Malaysia, and with just five races remaining the Briton simply cannot afford for that gap to increase.
There was little to choose between them yesterday. Who will prevail on Saturday?
Image source, Getty ImagesMorning all.
Welcome along to live coverage of third practice for this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.
The one-hour FP3 session gets under way at 04:00 BST and then we can all go for a cuddle and lie down for a bit until qualifying begins at 07:00 BST.
Right, places everyone.
Image source, Getty Images