Max Verstappen wins Japanese GP and secures second world title
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finishes P2 on road but hit with five-second penalty after running wide at final chicane and drops to P3
Race ended after 28 laps of the scheduled 53 because of two-hour limit following earlier red flag
But full points were awarded - contrary to the expectations of most the in the F1 paddock
Verstappen leads Perez by 113 points - with a maximum of 112 now available
Anger among many drivers after a recovery vehicle was on track while Alpha Tauri's Pierre Gasly was driving at speed
Lap 2/53
Sebastian Vettel has slipped down 16th place after starting in ninth.
"**** I got hit by Alonso!" said Vettel. "Really bad!"
The spray also caused Carlos Sainz to aquaplane and the Spaniard was straight on the radio to say he had crashed.
Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live
Brave stuff when the title is on the line. Great start from Max Verstappen, shame for Sebastian Vettel though.
Jack Nicholls
BBC Radio 5 Live F1 commentator
Charles Leclerc gets the better start but Verstappen sends it round the inside. Brilliant stuff from Verstappen at Turn One. He holds the lead.
Lap 1/53
A big shunt for Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari - and Alex Albon is also out for Williams.
Lap 1/53
Dreadful start for Sebastian Vettel as the Aston Martin spins and goes off the track. He's back in the action but has lost places already.
Yellow flag! Carlos Sainz is off!
Lap 1/53
Charles Leclerc gets a great getaway as Max Verstappen struggles but the Dutchman is back in control as he recovers quickly.
Image source, Getty ImagesTitle number two is there for the taking with a win and fastest lap for Max Verstappen.
Pierre Gasly is sitting in the garage as he is starting from the pit lane. Last of the stragglers are making their way to the grid.
Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live
Visibility for the first few laps is going to be dreadful. Look at the amount of spray the Red Bull is kicking up behind it.
"Track is quite wet now," Lewis Hamilton tells the Mercedes pit wall.
Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live
There are two cars that could put the cat amongst the pigeons - the Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso in fifth and seventh. They were extremely quick in the wet on Friday.
Green intermediate tyres have been selected across the grid as the formation lap gets under way.
Spray galore...
Image source, Getty ImagesThe rain could make Verstappen's task a bit trickier but win the Japanese Grand Prix and bank that fastest lap and this title hunt is all over.
Below the Dutchman, Perez's winning day in Singapore has allowed the Mexican to close the gap on second-placed Leclerc to just two points, while the battle for fourth between George Russell and Carlos Sainz is also a tight affair with one point separating the Mercedes and the Ferrari.
Lando Norris collected up a nice little haul of goodies after finishing fourth a week ago and is now on 100 points.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe scrap for fourth place in the constructors' championship is back in the hands of McLaren thanks to Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo both finishing within the top five at Marina Bay.
Back-to-back race weekends without points means Alpine are now four points adrift of their papaya rivals.
Aston Martin also shuffled past two of their rivals as Lance Stroll and Sebastian Vettel claiming top-10 finishes moved the team onto 37 points and above Haas and Alpha Tauri.
At the top, Red Bull are 137 points clear of Ferrari, while the Scuderia hold a 66-point advantage over Mercedes in third.
#bbcf1
Jeremiah Kariuki: Only a technical issue can stop Verstappen from taking the Championship. Expect him to bolt from the to the finish and win. Wet conditions, I see a good race for Hamilton and Alonso. Podium a possibility.
Andrew Priestley: Max Verstappen will be hoping for a better getaway in the wet than he managed last weekend.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe simplest route to glory for Max Verstappen here in Japan is to win the race and pick up the bonus point for fastest lap.
If he can do that, then crack open the decent bottles of champagne, as it won't matter where team-mate Sergio Perez or Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finish.
If Verstappen wins but doesn't claim fastest lap, then Leclerc has to finish third or lower for the Red Bull driver to take the trophy. Perez's finishing position, again, is irrelevant.
Sam Bird
Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live
It's going to be very interesting. Max Verstappen is starting in the perfect place out in front. He will be the only car going into Turn One with a clear view.
BBC Radio 5 Live
Jennie Gow, Jack Nicholls and Formula E driver Sam Bird are ready to take you through full commentary of what could be a championship-winning Japanese Grand Prix for Max Verstappen.
Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live, the BBC Sounds app and at the top of this page using the audio icon.
Enjoy.
Image source, Getty ImagesDaniel Ricciardo is all smile for the crowds during the drivers' parade but the McLaren man said the words his fans did not want to hear yesterday.
With the news Pierre Gasly had taken the seat at Alpine and Nyck de Vries is joining Alpha Tauri, that leaves just two seats realistically remaining for the 2023 season: Haas and Williams.
'I think the reality is I won’t be on the grid in 2023,' said Ricciardo. 'I think it’s now just trying to set-up for 2024.'
The Australian was given a boost of confidence in Singapore with a fifth-placed finish but today he starts outside the top 10 in P11.
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