As the enthusiastic Japanese fans begin to gather at Suzuka early on Saturday morning, the rain has already started - although the skies are relatively light for now
As Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, winner of the last two races, arrives at the track, the heavier rain is already beginning to set in
The rain gets heavier as the time for final practice - 1100 local time; 0300 BST - draws near. Red Bull's Mark Webber wears a rain coat and waterproof over-shoes over his driving boots as he heads for the garage
As practice starts, the safety car explores the conditions, which are now grey and very, very wet
Jenson Button heads out on to the track, with the 'extreme' wet tyres on his McLaren, for an exploratory lap - behind him Mercedes' Nico Rosberg has already come back in after deciding the track is too wet
Mark Webber's Red Bull trails rooster tails of spray as the world championship leader heads out on to the demanding Suzuka track
Lights along the pit straight spear the gloom as Lewis Hamilton blasts past. The 2008 world champion tells his team over the radio: "Guys, this is just unbelievable. Pretty much impossible to drive out here. There are rivers everywhere."
As qualifying approaches, it becomes clear the cars are unlikely to take to the track and Webber watches proceedings from the Red Bull garage
The start time for qualifying comes and goes and the circuit timing board shows there has been a delay. The safety car prepares to go out to check out the conditions
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso is well aware which way things are going as he sits in the garage waiting to hear whether qualifying will be called
Webber's team-mate Sebastian Vettel kills time by larking around with the photographers, taking a camera and shooting photos of them
As it becomes clear qualifying will not take place, McLaren's Lewis Hamilton wanders out into the pit lane to wave to the fans to thank them for their patience
The teams begin to find other ways to amuse themselves and the Red Bull mechanics join those at Lotus in making boats to sail down the rivers in the pit lane
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