Nico Rosberg will look to close the gap on Lewis Hamilton when he starts in pole position for the 2014 Japanese Formula One Grand Prix. Join The Roar for live updates and commentary from 5:00pm (AEDT).
It’s clear for all to see that Mercedes have dominated Formula One this year, with Rosberg this week edging out the all too familiar battle with teammate Lewis Hamilton as to which of their cars will sit on the front of the grid when the lights go out at Suzuka.
Rosberg dominated the latter two sessions of qualifying after Hamilton – who joins the German on the front row – edged out the first in which all drivers took part.
The Mercedes pair will have the Williams duo of Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa in third and fourth positions on the grid respectively, whilst Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren make up the rest of the top 10.
Aussie Daniel Ricciardo will start from sixth position.
Described as one of Formula One’s “most demanding circuits”, Suzuka will host the 15th round of the Championship, with Hamilton currently harbouring a three-point advantage over Rosberg, who failed to finish in Singapore a fortnight ago.
With the Constructors Championship virtually secured for Mercedes, this duel will provide the last bout of excitement from a thrilling 2014 campaign amongst driving’s elite.
Suzuka was not a happy hunting ground for Hamilton last time out however, as he was forced to retire with collision damage early in the race.
Red Bull’s Sebastien Vettel – who will leave the constructor at the end of the year – claimed top spot ahead of teammate Mark Webber after the Australian had claimed pole position.
Should the testing conditions of the Japanese course not be enough of a challenge for the drivers, the remnants of Typhoon Phanfone is a potential threat with battering winds and rain on the Japanese East coast.
No direct threat is expected at Suzuka, but a large and heavy rainfall could occur before the race.
Join The Roar for live commentary and updates of the 2014 Japanese F1 Grand Prix from 5:00pm (AEDT).
If you are following the race live, be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
With speculation around, I think we shall leave it there. Thanks for joining me this afternoon, with Lewis Hamilton winning the Japanese Grand Prix to go ten points clear in the Championship. Australian interest fell with Daniel Ricciardo, who finished fourth, whilst thoughts are with Jules Bianchi who has been taken to hospital. Until next time, goodbye.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
A muted finale in Japan. Bianchi has been taken to hospital and is unconscious. He has gone by road ambulance with a police escort.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Correction, folks, Ricciardo has been awarded fourth place, not third. 1) Lewis Hamilton 2) Nico Rosberg 3) Sebastian Vettel 4) Daniel Ricciardo 5) Jenson Button 6) Valtteri Bottas 7) Felipe Massa 8) Nico Hulkenberg 9) Jean-Eric Vergne 10) Sergio Perez 11) Daniil Kvyat 12) Kimi Raikkonen 13) Esteban Gutierrez 14) Kevin Magnussen 15) Romain Grosjean 16) Pastor Maldonado 17) Marcus Ericsson 18) Max Chilton 19) Kamui Kobayashi DNF: Jules Bianchi, Adrian Sutil, Fernando Alonso
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
With six laps remaining, the race is drawn to an end on a concerned note. It's believed that Bianchi went into the site where Sutil had a crash of his own. There's yet to be a replay of the incident.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Among all that, Lewis Hamilton wins the Japanese Grand Prix for Mercedes from teammate Nico Rosberg, whilst Australian Daniel Ricciardo takes the third place on the podium.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
The race will not be resumed. Whilst an ambulance is attending the crash, believed to be seeing Jules Bianchi, the race is now at a finish.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Lap 46 of 53: We have a RED FLAG. The race has been stopped.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Lap 46 of 53: Jules Bianchi is also out of the race. Details, as yet unknown.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Lap 44 of 53: We are under the SAFETY CAR.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Lap 44 of 53: Adrian Sutil is off, his seventh retirement of the term. Yellow flags, but no Safety Car as of yet.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Lap 43 of 53: Well, right on cue, Daniel Ricciardo takes Button's fourth spot!
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Lap 42 of 53: The rain has led to the DRS being turned off, a fact Jensen Button may be feeling relieved about as Ricciardo is kept at bay. For the time being, anyway.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Lap 41 of 53: 1) Hamilton, 2) Rosberg, 3) Vettel, 4) Button, 5) Ricciardo, 6) Hulkenburg, 7) Bottas, 8) Massa, 9) Perez, 10) Vergne
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Lap 40 of 53: It seems more likely that the Race Clock of 120 minutes may well beat us, with around 20 minutes and 14 laps remaining. There's plenty of rain around once again, with some running wide on Turn One. Once this lap is completed, drivers will claim full Championship points.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Lap 39 of 53: Ricciardo closing in on Button as it stands, with the Australian currently in fifth place.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Lap 31 of 53: Jensen Button continuing to hold his own in P3 as Sebastien Vettel makes a pit, and is flying on new wheels.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Lap 29 of 53: LEWIS HAMILTON TAKES THE LEAD. Rosberg goes defensive, giving the angle on Turn One for Hamilton to make the move at the start of Lap 29.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Lap 27 of 53: Hamilton runs wide! Nothing too drastic, but enough to give Rosberg a bit of breathing space as we head over halfway in this race.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Lap 25 of 53: DRS enabled as Hamilton has the run on Rosberg, who is struggling for grip, down to Turn One but to no avail.
Ross Lawson
Roar Guru
Lap 23 of 53: It's taken 23 laps, but the race seems to have finally settled down...