Summary

  • 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

Live Reporting

Lorraine McKenna

  1. Lap 15/53

    Lewis Hamilton doesn't want to ruin his grand prix either, so the seven-time world champion is just holding back on making any major moves on fourth-placed Esteban Ocon.

    George Russell is now up into 10th spot and is very pleased with the pass he has just completed on the Alpha Tauri of Yuki Tsunoda.

  2. Team radio - to Hamilton

    Others are starting to struggle with the fronts too.

  3. Lap 14/53 (24 minutes remaining)

    The field is a wash with green intermediate tyres now but that pit stop has dented George Russell's hopes of a decent weekend at Suzuka. The Mercedes man is languishing down in 11th place.

  4. 'Inters are starting to overheat'

    Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Lewis Hamilton is already moving around trying to find a slightly damper part of the circuit. Those inters are starting to overheat.

  5. Lap 12/53

    Race leader Max Verstappen holds a 5.922secs gap to Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari as the clock hits 26 minutes left of this Japanese Grand Prix.

    Sebastian Vettel, after spinning on the opening lap many moons ago, is running in sixth place for Aston Martin.

  6. Team radio - Ricciardo

    Ricciardio: "Is the weather stable?"

    McLaren: "We are expecting stable conditions to the end of the race."

  7. Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Lewis Hamilton could not out drag the Haas, which had the full extreme tyres on compared to Hamilton's inters. Just goes to show how difficult it is for the Mercedes drivers in that 'draggy' car.

  8. Lap 11/53

    More places are lost for Mick Schumacher as he runs wides and lets Nicholas Latifi's Williams profit from his misery. That's enough of the wet tyres for Mick. In he comes for a changeover.

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  10. Lap 10/53

    Mick Schumacher and Esteban Ocon are flying and quickly push Mick Schumacher down into fifth place. Lewis Hamilton fancies his chances again the Haas but can't get find away past the German driver.

    A few moments later at the final corner, round the outside is on the cards for the seven-time world champion and a top-five spot is in his possession.

  11. 'Yet again Alonso loses out'

    Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Really worked out for Sebastian Vettel getting that early call to change to the inters. On the flip side Fernando Alonso has lost out. Yet again the Alpine has lost out on points.

    fernando alonsoGetty Images

  12. Get Involved

    #bbcf1

    Jeremiah Kariuki: This is now a race of sprays! But that is a gamble by Vettel and Latifi to go in to Inters this early.

    Andrew Priestley: Morning motorway rush hour carnage in the pitlane.

  13. Team radio - to Schumacher

    We are P3 and hoping for the safety car. Let's stay on track and keep going.

  14. Lap 9/53

    Fernando Alonso's time at the top comes to an end as the Spaniard is into to the pits for the green inters. Max Verstappen retakes the lead, with Charles Leclerc second and Mick Schumacher, in the Haas, running in third!

  15. Team radio - Russell

    That was the worst decision we have made.

  16. Lap 8/53

    The pit lane is a hive of activity as driver pile into to change to the intermediate tyres. As a train is formed the spray kicks up behind each car.

    Fernando Alonso, who topped wet practice on Friday, is now leading this Japanese Grand Prix.

  17. Team radio - Russell

    Mercedes: "Inters are much quicker."

    Russell: "Yeh, but I've got a clear track."

  18. Team radio - Hamilton

    Hamilton: "Extremes right now mate."

    Mercedes: "Just about to let you know they are losing times on the inter."

  19. Lap 7/53

    Aston Martin were a bit too quick to send Sebastian Vettel on his way and that near-miss with Nicholas Latifi is going to be looked at by the stewards.

    Look over. No further action required.

  20. Sam Bird
    Formula E driver on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Super tough - everybody from third backwards is having an extremely tough time. Visibility is zero.