How the Japanese Grand Prix unfolded

Summary

Rosberg wins, Verstappen 2nd, Hamilton 3rd
Mercedes win constructors' title
Hamilton fell back to 8th after terrible start

Live Reporting

Jamie Strickland

Has Vettel's chance gone?published at 07:12 British Summer Time 9 October 2016
Hamilton has perhaps weathered the Vettel storm.
The Ferrari is now two seconds behind the rear wing of the Mercedes.
Meanwhile, the two of them have closed up considerably on second-placed Verstappen.
Just 2.4secs now separates Hamilton from the Red Bull man.
As it stands he will be 33 points behind Rosberg tonight. Can he make it 30?
'Keep your head down'published at 07:07 British Summer Time 9 October 2016
Sebastian Vettel is getting frustrated behind Lewis Hamilton. He tells his team radio: "He's pulling away in the straights."
"Keep your head down, the race is not over," he's told.
Image source, AP
Lap 39 of 53published at 07:06 British Summer Time 9 October 2016
And we still have a full field circulating. No retirements.
Image source, Rex Features
What will Vettel do?published at 07:05 British Summer Time 9 October 2016
Tom Clarkson
BBC Radio 5 live commentator
Lewis Hamilton will be relishing this battle. What will Sebastian Vettel do as he has only got a few more laps to get past Hamilton?
Postpublished at 07:04 British Summer Time 9 October 2016
Vettel to push Hamiltonpublished at 07:03 British Summer Time 9 October 2016
Mark Gallagher
BBC Radio 5 live Formula 1 analyst
It will be disappointing for Sebastian Vettel to see Lewis Hamilton in front of him but on those soft tyres he will be pushing hard and we are seeing some quick times as he tries to close on the Mercedes.
Image source, Getty Images
Vettel pits for softspublished at 07:02 British Summer Time 9 October 2016
Vettel comes in and puts on soft tyres.
He comes out fourth, right behind Hamilton and is all over the back of him.
Hamilton is on the hard tyre so it's very much advantage Vettel at this point.
He'll have to make the move soon before those tyres start going off.
Hamilton pits, and Raikkonen closes inpublished at 06:59 British Summer Time 9 October 2016
Hamilton in for new boots on lap 34 and rejoins back in fourth place.
But the flying Raikkonen is right there behind him.
Image source, Getty Images
Ricciardo finally pitspublished at 06:58 British Summer Time 9 October 2016
Ricciardo comes in and takes on some hard tyres to get him to the end of the race.
He never had any chance to prevent Raikkonen from getting the undercut after that delay in coming in and he rejoins sixth.
'It's ridiculous'published at 06:55 British Summer Time 9 October 2016
Leader Sebastian Vettel is being caught by Lewis Hamilton and he isn't happy as he is held up by a Manor.
"It's ridiculous. I lost a second for nothing," he says.
He later comes on the radio and uses the phrase "for pity's sake".
Tremendous use of the English language by the German lad.
Image source, Getty Images
Postpublished at 06:55 British Summer Time 9 October 2016
Rosberg in and awaypublished at 06:53 British Summer Time 9 October 2016
This is all looking good for Rosberg.
Another pit stop taken at the start of lap 30. No dramas at all and he boils out of his box and back onto the track.
He loses the lead to Vettel, Verstappen having pitted a lap earlier.
'Starting to drop off'published at 06:52 British Summer Time 9 October 2016
Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo is on the radio telling his team: "We can't go too much longer on these tyres as they are starting to drop off."
Image source, Getty Images
Ricciardo stays out...published at 06:52 British Summer Time 9 October 2016
Hmmm, odd one this from Red Bull.
Ricciardo is not brought in by his team and then end of the next lap. Meanwhile, Raikkonen laps 2.5secs quicker than the Australian.
This undercut is a done deal, I think.
'I wish I could...'published at 06:51 British Summer Time 9 October 2016
Fernando Alonso is told to push by McLaren and the frustrated Spaniard says: "I wish, with which tyres can I push?"
Raikkonen in - and flyingpublished at 06:48 British Summer Time 9 October 2016
As before the first stops, Raikkonen is chomping at the rear wing of Ricciardo but again we are denied the chance of seeing them battle side-by-side as a pit stop intervenes.
This time it's the Finn diving in for new boots. He's trying the undercut and immediately goes purple in the first sector.
Ricciardo's fifth place definitely under threat.
get involved
Get Involvedpublished at 06:46 British Summer Time 9 October 2016
#bbcf1
Andri Pratama: No matter how good the car is,if @ScuderiaFerrari still got this crew and strategist in their camp, they're not gonna win anything.
Richard Wright: Re Championship I think Lewis has thrown in the towel. He's convinced himself that the team is favouring the other guy.
Massa pitspublished at 06:45 British Summer Time 9 October 2016
So the first of the one-stoppers are in. Expect the rest to follow fairly sharpish.
Williams on a one stop?published at 06:44 British Summer Time 9 October 2016
Tom Clarkson
BBC Radio 5 live commentator
It must be frustrating for both Williams drivers. They have to be on a one-stop strategy as why would they persevere so long.
I'm disappointed as I thought one would be on a racier strategy.
They are maybe hoping for the safety car as there is a 60% chance of that here. For them that would be great for them and, indeed, for Lewis Hamilton.
Grim for McLarenpublished at 06:43 British Summer Time 9 October 2016
A quick update on McLaren for you - nine-time winners in Japan, remember.
They are currently slogging around in 16th and 19th, Alonso ahead of Button.
This is a weekend the team - and Honda in particular - will want to forget in a hurry.