Image source, Getty Images

Sebastian Vettel is out of the car now so that slight glimmer of hope that he would be going back out appears to be over.

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton is now more than three seconds clear of Max Verstappen.

Mark Gallagher
BBC Radio 5 live Formula 1 analyst

We were hoping this title would go down to final race but it is unlikely that will happen now. I fancy we might be gong into the last two Grands Prix with the title wrapped up.

Stoffel Vandoorne pits from 16th and moves onto soft tyres, having started on the super-softs. He's back out in 16th.

Mark Gallagher
BBC Radio 5 live Formula 1 analyst

That's a pretty embarrassing exit for Marcus Ericsson. He was no where near to making the apex.

Hang about.

Sebastian Vettel may not definitely, definitely be out of the race. He is staying in the car as Ferrari mechanics replace a troublesome spark plug...

Waѕiyullah Budye: As a massive fan of F1 badly wanted to see battle between Hamilton & Vettel. But sadly Vettel's car is not upto the mark.

Denislov Lietnev: What an anticlimactic moment Ferrari being forced to retire Vettel's car from this race

Russell Pope: Stop feeling sorry for Vettel. F1 is an engineering comp as much as a driver one. If Ferrari product is inferior they lose.

Image source, Getty Images

Another car off the track!

This time it is Marcus Ericsson's Sauber, which is sitting nose first in the wall at Degner 2.

Virtual Safety Car is deployed.

Tom Clarkson
BBC Radio 5 live commentator

The Mercedes car is clearly faster this weekend than last.

At some point Hamilton will think he has got this championship finished and think 'let's go racing'.

But the worst thing he could do is race with Verstappen, have an accident and not take advantage of this opportunity.

Lewis Hamilton's advantage over Max Verstappen is up to two seconds as the Briton puts in a new fastest lap.

Kenny Kong: Ferrari trying their hardest to hand the championships to Mercedes... reliability issues can't be happening so frequently in 2017

Josh Earl: Vettel out!!! Come on, maximum points please, Lewis!!

Patrick Brookings: Well, that's it, this F1 season is over and done with

Jason, London

McLaren-Honda's hopes of scoring points in Japan have taken a hit because Stoffel Vandoorne, who started ninth, has dropped down to 16th. He's behind his team-mate Fernando Alonso now.

Lewis Hamilton is fastest of all through the first sector as he sets about building an advantage over Max Verstappen. The Briton is 1.3s down the road from the Red Bull.

Mark Gallagher
BBC Radio 5 live Formula 1 analyst

This will be devastating for Sebastian Vettel and the Ferrari mechanics. It is game over for Vettel. He is not going to add a fifth world title.

Jack Nicholls
Radio 5 live Formula 1 commentator

Hamilton has one and a half hands now on the 2017 World Championship.

Lewis Hamilton will be bouncing up and down in his Mercedes at the news of Sebastian Vettel's retirement.

The engraver may as well get an early start on popping his name on the world championship trophy.

Still, he's got a race to run and a lively Max Verstappen snapping at his heels.

Disaster!

Sebastian Vettel is OUT.

"Box Sebastian, box," he is told. "We will retire the car I'm afraid."

Jack Nicholls
Radio 5 live Formula 1 commentator

Vettel is in massive, massive trouble here. He is in danger of scoring no points.

In goes the safety car and Sebastian Vettel's race goes from bad to worse as Sergio Perez breezes past him.

An absolute nightmare for Vettel's championship hopes.

Mark Gallagher
BBC Radio 5 live Formula 1 analyst

It sounds like Vettel has a very healthy internal combustion engine but possibly no hybrid power.

It is not the first time it has happened to Ferrari. If that is the case he will be 160bhp down on the other drivers.