F1 2024 Japan Grand Prix LIVE: FP3 results, qualifying start time and updates at Suzuka

After a quiet first six minutes of running, with Kevin Magnussen the only driver setting a hot lap, all the cars come out of the pit lane at the same time with 12 minutes to go.

And it’s busy in the pit lane! George Russell almost collided with Oscar Piastri, with the Aussie not happy about it: “Very dangerous from Russell.”

The stewards will investigate after the session…

Here we go then with qualifying in Japan!

18 minutes for the first qualifying session where, as usual, we will lose the slowest five drivers from the field.

It’s overcast but fairly warm in Suzuka, with no rain on the horizon!

We’re just five minutes away from qualifying at Suzuka!

Can anyone stop Max Verstappen? The Red Bull driver is 3/3 for pole positions so far this season and is firm favourite after his quick displays in practice in Japan.

As for Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren? It’s all a little bit more unknown. In warm, 19C conditions in Suzuka, it should be a fascinating session!

Exclusive interview by Kieran Jackson

From university in Belfast and the circus of the Formula 1 paddock to the television screen and the world of the media, Bernie Collins’s path to her current role has been unorthodox to say the least. And in some respects, groundbreaking. Regularly the sole woman in a man’s world, the Northern Irish F1 expert has consistently broken the mould, first as an engineer for McLaren and a strategist for Aston Martin to now: a key cog in Sky Sports’ coverage of F1.

This weekend, Collins will be in the Osterley-based studio as part of Sky’s coverage of the Japanese Grand Prix. As she acknowledges, she is a rare breed of pundit: that is, someone from a data-driven background. And in a sport as technical as Formula 1 – perhaps the most statistical-based sport in the British mainstream – her unique perspective has positively tapped into a market previously untouched.

“It’s a story which hasn’t been sold,” says Collins, 38, of her role with Sky. “Even now when I watch other sports, football for example, most pundits are ex-footballers or managers. But teams have a data team and fitness coaches. I think it’s beginning to open up this realisation that all sports have technical areas and people are more interested in the technical side of sports than ever before.”

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