Andrew Benson
BBC F1 correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Max Verstappen set the fastest time in Friday practice at the Japanese Grand Prix as the second session was rendered useless by the weather.

Intermittent light rain at Suzuka in the afternoon meant the track was too wet for dry-weather tyres and too dry for wets and only three drivers set lap times.

Verstappen was fastest in the first session, leading Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz.

McLaren’s Oscar Piastri topped the second from Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.

They, along with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, were the only drivers to set a flying lap on slick tyres as the track dried slightly at the end of the session.

Read the full report here

Image source, Getty Images

Well, that was unfortunate. Only 13 drivers managed to put a time on the board during that session.

Will the rain play a part in qualifying tomorrow? There is a 30% chance currently of wet conditions on Saturday.

Set your alarms EARLY for third practice - 03:30 BST.

If that's too much of a stretch on your day off, the fight for pole position starts at 07:00 BST.

Catch you tomorrow. In the meantime, have a read of these F1 stories:

Comeback in my thoughts but not priority - Vettel

Verstappen expected to dominate Japanese Grand Prix

Andrew benson Q&A: Send us your questions

How to follow the Japanese Grand Prix on the BBC

Lewis Hamilton is next to put a marker down on the softs, the Mercedes man banking a 1:35.226, while Oscar Piastri improves further with a 1:34.725.

Oscar Piastri's time has opened the floodgates and more drivers head out to try and get some flyers under the belt on the soft tyres. The Australian, meanwhile, has gone quicker on his slicks, clocking a 1:36.862 on his latest run.

McLaren have sent out on Oscar Piastri out on a set of softs. The Australian is giving the fans something to savour in the final few minutes.

Across the line and a 1:39.105 for Piastri. Rapid!

Would you take a baby to a grand prix? Have you taken your young child to a race weekend?

Yeah, we've reached emergency levels of filling now. Kevin Magnussen has ventured out on the softs but radios through to say it's too wet.

However, Alex Albon in the Williams reckons it's fine to head out on the slicks...

The passion of the fans hasn't dampened, they're all still as giddy as ever.

Back to the Sauber boys and Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas are the only two drivers on track on the intermediates.

If you're just joining us this morning, hoping to catch some late practice action, I'm sorry, this has been a bit of a washout so far.

Max Verstappen topped first practice earlier on and Logan Sargeant crashed in the Williams. This has been a bit of a blessing for the team, as the American's car was not ready in time to take part in this session.

One car, and it's a bright green one, is out on track. Valtteri Bottas is matching the Sauber livery with the intermediates but the Finn returns to the pits to leave the circuit clear of action once again.

Speaking of family members....

Protect Formula 1 Grandmas at all costs.

Fresh from Nanny Piastri making the paddock some sweat treats in Melbourne, here's Grandma Albon bumping into Lando Norris at Narita airport this week.

Extra cute points for Granny Albon wanting to make sure Alex lets Lando know she isn't just some random lady claiming to be related to him.

Image source, Alex Albon X

Max Verstappen is standing around in the Red Bull garage, watching Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda putting in the leg work on the intermediates. The Dutchman has a new haircut, which I think is a skin fade? If you're under the age of 26 following along, let me know if that's right.

Home driver Tsunoda, whose father, Nobuaki, is watching on, goes down into the 1:40s.

Well, there are two times on the board courtesy of the RB drivers, but they won't be making any headlines. Yuki Tsunoda does a 1:42.304 on the inters while team-mate Daniel Ricciardo clocks a time in the 1:46s.

Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, looks like he's just woken up from a quick cat nap. The Monegasque driving is pacing up and down the Ferrari garage while other drivers test out the intermediates.

More cars have headed out on the inters, however, with Daniel Ricciardo, Yuki Tsunoda, Zhou Guanyu and Valtteri Bottas taking a lap on the green compound.

Oscar Piastri heads back to base and tells his McLaren pit wall "it's not really that wet."

OK, Oscar Piastri has been released from the garage on a set of green intermediates.

Jennie Gow, Jolyon Palmer, Bec Clancy and Andrew Benson look ahead to the Japanese Grand Prix. We discuss whether Red Bull will have more reliability issues, and how Carlos Sainz’s victory in Australia changes the dynamic at Ferrari. Plus, should Alonso have received a penalty in Melbourne? And could Sebastian Vettel make a comeback to the sport?

Listen here on BBC Sounds

Another cracker of a sign in the crowd, which reads: "My last name is Honda but boy do I love red flags".

The sky is dark and there are wet spots on the TV cameras. All the fans can do is sit there patiently with their ponchos on.

Hmm. Maybe spoke to soon? Daniel Ricciardo is back in the car after sitting out of first practice to let Formula 2 driver Ayumu Iwasa have a go in the RB. The Australian follows Lewis Hamilton's lead and has a peek at the conditions but he's on the radio to say it's starting to rain heavier now, so he makes his way back to the pits.