Summary

  • Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli fastest in Japanese GP final practice

  • Qualifying at Suzuka from 06:00 GMT - build-up from 05:30

  • Lando Norris makes it out for FP3 despite ERS issue

  • Select audio icon tab for Sports Extra commentary (UK only)

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Live Reporting

Lorraine McKenna

  1. Report: Antonelli fastest as Norris has another problem

    Andrew Benson
    BBC F1 correspondent at Suzuka

    Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli drives around a right-hand corner during final practice for the Japanese Grand PrixGetty Images

    Kimi Antonelli led George Russell in a Mercedes one-two in final practice at the Japanese Grand Prix.

    Antonelli, who was also quicker than his team-mate on Friday, was 0.254 seconds clear of the Briton in the final session before qualifying.

    Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc was third fastest - but the gap between him and Antonelli was a chasm at 0.867secs.

    Leclerc was 0.135secs clear of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in fourth place, with Lewis Hamilton in the second Ferrari fifth fastest and 0.154secs behind his team-mate.

    Lando Norris managed to finish the session sixth despite missing the first 25 minutes of the hour as McLaren sought to fix a problem with his energy-recovery system.

    It was the third hybrid-related issue to afflict McLaren in two races, after both cars failed to start the last race in China with different battery failures.

    Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg was seventh, ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, who was unhappy with his car, complaining about high-speed understeer and poor gearshifts.

    Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly completed the top 10.

    McLaren's Lando Norris during Japanese Grand Prix final practiceGetty Images

  2. Back for qualifying build-up from 05:30 GMT

    Kimi Antonelli tops third practice in Japan but can the Chinese Grand Prix winner overcome Mercedes team-mate George Russell and secure back-to-back pole positions for the first time in his career?

    Following his battery issues in this session, what will qualifying bring world champion Lando Norris? And will Ferrari be able to challenge the Silver Arrows' dominance?

    We'll find out at 06:00 GMT.

    Go and take a quick cat nap and then come back and join us for build-up at 05:30.

    See you shortly!

  3. And the rest

    11. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)

    12. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)

    13. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)

    14. Esteban Ocon (Haas)

    15. Oliver Bearman (Haas)

    16. Alex Albon (Williams)

    17. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)

    18. Carlos Sainz (Williams)

    19. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)

    20. Sergio Perez (Cadillac)

    21. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)

    22. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)

  4. Alice Powell
    British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Mercedes are a chunk ahead. That's a good, decent-sized gap they have ahead of Ferrari. Piastri sneaking in ahead of Lewis Hamilton and splitting the Ferraris. If Mercedes aren't on pole I will be extremely shocked.

  5. Top 10

    1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 1:29.362

    2. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.254

    3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.867

    4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +1.002

    5. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +1.021

    6. Lando Norris (McLaren) +1.238

    7. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) +1.296

    8. Max verstappen (Red Bull) +1.548

    9. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi) +1.638

    10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +1.720

  6. chequered flag

    Chequered flag

    AntonelliGetty Images

    Practice done at Suzuka and it's a Mercedes one-two to finish us off, with Kimi Antonelli 0.254 seconds quicker than team-mate George Russell.

    Charles Leclerc is third, Oscar Piastri, who topped second practice yesterday, is fourth and the other Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton completes the top five.

  7. Team radio - Lindblad to Racing Bulls

    Arvid Lindblad: "Mate, this Ferrari is off his head! I don't know who this... yeah I don't"

    Engineer: "Just overtake them!"

  8. Now it's the turn of Arvid Lindblad in the other Racing Bulls to vent his frustrations on the team radio. The track is busy as the chequered flag is about to come out but one of the Ferrari drivers has blocked the path of the British rookie.

  9. Alice Powell
    British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    If things don't change over the course of this season or going into next, I wonder how long we'll see Max hanging around.

  10. Team radio - Lawson to Racing Bulls

    "Oh my god. I mean, yeah, he literally just parked it on the apex the whole way through."

  11. Seventh becomes eighth now for Max Verstappen, as Lando Norris claws back more time and lifts his McLaren up to sixth on the timing screen with his latest flying lap on the soft compound.

    Liam Lawson is 14th on the board but a Haas driver has caused the New Zealander a nervous moment in the closing stages of this session.

  12. Team radio - Verstappen to Red Bull

    Verstappen: "What is going on with this shifts again over one lap? It's just horrendous the downshifts!"

    Engineer: "Give me a corner please, Max."

    Verstappen: "Everywhere."

  13. Red BullGetty Images

    Red Bull's time at Suzuka has been as frustrating as the previous two races in Australia and Shanghai. Isack Hadjar is in 10th place while team-mate Max Verstappen, who has won the past four races from pole position in Japan, is now seventh on the timesheets.

    The Dutchman said the car was lacking balance and grip on Friday and he's back on the team radio today to report issues with the downshifts, flagging his discomfort with a naughty word.

  14. Get Involved

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    David: Miraculous job from McLaren if that car posts a time!

  15. The Audis of Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto are bookending the Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton in fifth and seventh, while Lando Norris is moves his McLaren up to eighth place after missing out on lap time with a battery problem. McLaren CEO Zak Brown told Sky Sports a little earlier the team aren't sure whether it's the same issue that prevented the world champion from starting the Chinese Grand Prix in round two.

  16. Top five

    1. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - 1:29.362

    2. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.254

    3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.867

    4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +1.002

    5. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi) +1.296

  17. Team radio - Russell to Mercedes

    "That was a good save!"

  18. Alice Powell
    British racing driver on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Nice save from Bearman.

  19. Antonelli faster than Russell

    The competition between the Mercedes drivers is increasing as Kimi Antonelli is now 0.254 seconds faster than team-mate George Russell. Qualifying starts at 06:00 GMT today, so make sure you're here.

    Haas driver Oliver Bearman takes quite a spin at Turn 14 but the Briton composes himself, straightens up and continues on his way.

  20. Jennie Gow
    F1 pit-lane reporter at Suzuka

    Just a few tweaks on the suspension of Hamilton's car. The soft tyres are on and Ferrari are preparing to send him back out.