F1 Japanese Grand Prix LIVE: Qualifying updates and times at Suzuka

Japanese Grand Prix preview

It’s been quite a few months for Carlos Sainz. At the turn of the year, a contract extension at Ferrari seemed a formality. His win in Singapore last September – the only non-Red Bull victory since 2022 – solidified his role at the Scuderia as one half of a strong partnership with Charles Leclerc. In fact, the Spaniard was ready to take the next step and target a championship challenge in the near future.

Cue Lewis Hamilton. Cue appendicitis and a race absence in Saudi Arabia. Downed but undefeated, Sainz’s resilience and skillset came to the fore quite superbly two weeks ago as he overcame all those obstacles in Australia with a terrific victory on the streets of Melbourne, taking advantage of Max Verstappen’s retirement for his third win in F1.

And ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix on the popular Suzuka circuit, the 29-year-old admits that a spot on the grid next year is something he wants sorting as soon as possible. Frankly, he should be a man high in demand.

5. Aston Martin – 25 points

9. Kick Sauber – 0 points

1. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – 1:29.563

2. Sergio Perez (Red Bull) +0.269

3. George Russell (Mercedes) +0.355

4. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) +0.474

5. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +0.519

6. Lando Norris (McLaren) +0.574

7. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) +0.608

8. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +0.663

9. Yuki Tsunoda (RB) +0.778

10. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +0.820

1. Max Verstappen – 51 points

2. Charles Leclerc – 47 points

3. Sergio Perez – 46 points

4. Carlos Sainz – 40 points

5. Oscar Piastri – 28 points

6. Lando Norris – 27 points

7. George Russell – 18 points

8. Fernando Alonso – 16 points

9. Lance Stroll – 9 points

10. Lewis Hamilton – 8 points

11. Yuki Tsunoda – 6 points

12. Oliver Bearman – 6 points

13. Nico Hulkenberg – 3 points

14. Kevin Magnussen – 1 point

15. Alex Albon – 0 points

16. Zhou Guanyu – 0 points

17. Daniel Ricciardo – 0 points

18. Esteban Ocon – 0 points

19. Pierre Gasly – 0 points

20. Valtteri Bottas – 0 points

21. Logan Sargeant – 0 points

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend!

Lando Norris finished third to pick up McLaren’s first podium of the season, while Mercedes endured their first double DNF in five years after George Russell’s late crash, which resulted in Fernando Alonso’s post-race penalty.

With Red Bull’s F1 win-streak broken, Verstappen now only has a four-point lead at the top of the drivers’ championship to Leclerc – but will normal service resume this weekend at one of the sport’s most iconic and popular tracks?

• Free practice 3: 3:30am
• Qualifying: 7am

Japanese Grand Prix preview

It’s been quite a few months for Carlos Sainz. At the turn of the year, a contract extension at Ferrari seemed a formality. His win in Singapore last September – the only non-Red Bull victory since 2022 – solidified his role at the Scuderia as one half of a strong partnership with Charles Leclerc. In fact, the Spaniard was ready to take the next step and target a championship challenge in the near future.

Cue Lewis Hamilton. Cue appendicitis and a race absence in Saudi Arabia. Downed but undefeated, Sainz’s resilience and skillset came to the fore quite superbly two weeks ago as he overcame all those obstacles in Australia with a terrific victory on the streets of Melbourne, taking advantage of Max Verstappen’s retirement for his third win in F1.

And ahead of this weekend’s Japanese Grand Prix on the popular Suzuka circuit, the 29-year-old admits that a spot on the grid next year is something he wants sorting as soon as possible. Frankly, he should be a man high in demand.