| 09:50:44
| Welcome to F1-Live.com and our live coverage of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend. Today we have two 90 minute free practice sessions, the first of which gets underway in a few minutes. |
| 09:52:35
| This year the Japanese event moves from Suzuka to Fuji. While many lament the loss of John Hugenholtz designed circuit from the Formula One calendar, the good news is that the circuit returns in 2009 and will then alternate with Fuji. |
| 09:54:37
| Fuji Speedway features a 1.5 KM main straight which many hope will result in some passing. Takuma Sato compared the circuit to Indianapolis which has proven to be good for overtaking. For those of you old enough to remember early 1980s video games, Pole Position by Namco/Atari was actually based on this original circuit. |
| 09:56:22
| As ever, Friday practice will be all about fine tuning the chassis and completing tyre evaluation runs. Bridgestone has the medium and soft options available this weekend, the softer tyre featuring the white band to distinguish it from the harder option. |
| 09:58:19
| Some of the drivers, such as Felipe Massa, have used simulators to get used to the new circuit back at base. It was interesting to note that Kimi Raikkonen does not like the simulator and never uses it and the jury is still out a little as to how effective they can be in driver preparation. |
| 10:00:11
| It is overcast but warm and dry as the 90 minute practice session is now underway. |
| 10:00:39
| They all will have gone for a relatively fresh engine in this session. They will revert to the race engine on Saturday morning. As a result, most will complete an installation lap on then pit for checks. |
| 10:01:03
| Adrian Sutil and Sakon Yamamoto head out first for the Spyker Ferrari team. |
| 10:01:19
| Others are now heading out for thier installtion lap. |
| 10:02:31
| The early runners are now returning to the pits for the checks. |
| 10:03:02
| Toro Rosso driver Tonio Liuzzi has started a second lap as has team-mate Sebastian Vettel. |
| 10:04:23
| After a second lap Liuzzi and Vettel pit as well. |
| 10:05:47
| Fernando Alonso is currently on his installtion lap. Only Ferrari and Williams have yet to leave the pit lane. |
| 10:06:25
| Alonso has now returned to the McLaren garage. |
| 10:07:48
| A number of teams have produced the final updates of the season for this event. Toyota and Honda have pushed hardest to make gains at what is their home event. |
| 10:08:13
| No one on track at the moment. |
| 10:10:44
| Super Aguri Honda annouced just ahead of this session that they have picked up Four Leaf, Pioneer and Virgin sponsorship. This is also the big race of the season for this team. |
| 10:12:14
| David Coulthard has adopted the colours of the late Colin McRae's crash helmet for this event to honour his countryman, who along with his five-year old son and two passengers, recently lost his life in a helecopter accident. |
| 10:12:35
| Takuma Sato, Adrian Sutil and Sakon Yamamoto are back out on track now. |
| 10:13:07
| Sato heads straight back to the Super Aguri pit. |
| 10:14:41
| Sutil sets the first timed lap of the session on a 1:24.5. |
| 10:15:56
| Yamamoto's first lap is two seconds adrift as Sutil trims a second off on his next tour. |
| 10:17:25
| Anthony Davidson is now out in his SA07. |
| 10:18:10
| The Spyker duo are improving their lap time each time around as they get to grips with the new 4.563km circuit. |
| 10:18:24
| Toyota send out Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher. |
| 10:19:27
| All but Raikkonen, Massa, Rosberg and Wurz have at least completed an installtion lap. |
| 10:19:57
| Davidson's first timed lap moves him second, splitting the Spyker duo. |
| 10:21:35
| Schumacher moves fastest in his revised TF107 with Trulli third. |
| 10:21:54
| Rosberg, Hamilton and Vettel rejoin the action. |
| 10:22:48
| Now Trulli is fastest from Schumacher. Sutil and Yamamoto have both pitted. |
| 10:23:50
| Being a short circuit, the times will be much closer than say on a seven km track like Spa Francorchamps. |
| 10:24:24
| Fisichella, Kovalainen, Alonso, Barrichello, Button and Liuzzi are now on track as well. |
| 10:24:52
| Hamilton moves fastest on his first timed lap a good second and a half clear of Ralf Schumacher. |
| 10:25:37
| Hamilton needs to hit the ground running this weekend if he is to retain his title lead as team-mate Alonso has been the stronger of the two in recent races. |
| 10:26:19
| One of the Toro Rosso's has stopped on track. |
| 10:26:39
| It's Sebastian Vettel who seems to have a mechanical problem on his STR2. |
| 10:27:37
| Plenty of lap times coming in as Hamilton remains fastest from Trulli who has pitted and Davidson. |
| 10:28:52
| Now the yellow flag has been removed, Alonso is on the pace and moves second with Kovalainen up to third. |
| 10:29:09
| Raikkonen and Massa are now on track for Ferrari. |
| 10:30:28
| As ever, they are all on the harder tyre at the moment. Some will try the softer tyre late in the session. One hour remains. |
| 10:30:54
| Hamilton and Alonso both pit. Massa and Raikkonen on their first timed laps now. |
| 10:31:31
| Massa's first lap moved him seventh. |
| 10:32:24
| Raikkonen's first lap is not rapid either as he's 12th. He ran off track late in the lap. |
| 10:34:11
| Massa's third lap moves him to the head of the timesheets in his F2007. Raikkonen remains down the order at the moment. |
| 10:34:39
| Nick Heidfeld improves and is now fifth. |
| 10:34:48
| Raikkonen vaults fifth fastest. |
| 10:35:29
| Fisichella remains outside of the top ten in his Renault at the moment. |
| 10:36:59
| Takuma Sato is the only driver not to set a time at the moment. He has completed two installation laps. |
| 10:37:34
| Kubica is now fifth, just ahead of team-mate Heidfeld. |
| 10:38:29
| Raikkonen moves second. As ever, it is between Ferrari and McLaren. Ferrari seem to have the edge in recent races. |
| 10:39:58
| Coulthard has gone off track early in the lap. He rejoins the circuit in his Red Bull Renault and continues. |
| 10:42:10
| Raikkonen and Alonso remain on track. |
| 10:42:49
| Coulthard is currently running in 20th position and seems to be struggling with his RB3. |
| 10:43:25
| Most are retutning to the pits now. Alonso is the only front-runner on track. |
| 10:44:16
| Still no sign of Sato. He must have a problem which is a shame as this is his home event. |
| 10:45:24
| Hamilton (3rd) is now back out. |
| 10:46:17
| Coulthard was unable to make any progress and pits while P20 behind Yamamoto. |
| 10:46:37
| Kovalainen is back out in his Renault. |
| 10:48:22
| News just in is that Hamilton is 'on the verge' of signing a five-year deal to stay with McLaren worth 110 million US dollars. |
| 10:50:23
| No changes at the moment as they are on the longer runs with relatively worn tyres. |
| 10:51:29
| Webber is back out and looking to move up from P13 in his Red Bull. |
| 10:55:31
| Webber has been unable to find time and remains 13th. Kubica is on track and is sixth as Fisichella has now moves seventh fastest in his Renault just ahead of Heidfeld. |
| 10:56:41
| The fastest five are in the pits. |
| 10:57:55
| Yamamoto has pulled off track in his Spyker. |
| 10:58:52
| Raikkonen and Alonso are now on track. |
| 10:59:28
| Ralf Schumacher has gone for a spin in his Toyota. |
| 10:59:46
| Schumacher (11th) gets going again and starts another lap. |
| 11:00:42
| Felipe Massa is now back out as well. |
| 11:02:25
| Raikkonen is now on a fast lap, but needs to find three tenths to overhaul his team-mate. |
| 11:03:15
| Raikkonen closes the gap down and is now less than a tenth off Massa who is also on a fast lap. |
| 11:03:42
| Takuma Sato is now on track. He has yet to set a time. |
| 11:04:37
| Team-mate Davidson is running well and is currently tenth fastest in his SA07. |
| 11:05:36
| Alonso improves his lap time but remains fourth just behind Hamilton who is now leaving the pit lane. |
| 11:07:32
| Sato is now up to speed as he moves 17th. A bad day for Red Bull so far with limited laps from Coulthard and Webber. |
| 11:07:50
| A quick pit stop for Raikkonen and he is back out. |
| 11:09:28
| After a cloudy start, the sun is now out. The track temeperate has been hot all day and now almost 50 degrees C. |
| 11:10:08
| Raikkonen is back in the pit. There must be some fine tuning going on there. |
| 11:10:55
| The track is fairly busy right now although the fastest four have gone back to the pits. |
| 11:11:15
| Sato is working his way up the timesheets and is now 15th. |
| 11:12:22
| After his problems earlier on, Sebastian Vettel is back out in his Toro Rosso. |
| 11:12:47
| Kovalainen and Fisichella on better laps for Renault. |
| 11:14:09
| Both Renault driver's opt to pit, so no improvement. |
| 11:16:14
| Kubica and Heidfeld are on track for BMW Sauber. |
| 11:16:29
| Heidfeld gains one position and is now seventh fastest. |
| 11:17:00
| Vettel has moved up the order and is now ahead of team-mate Tonio Liuzzi. |
| 11:17:56
| Most have pitted to get ready for a final stint. Webber is back out after a long time in the Red Bull pit. No sign of Coulthard as yet. |
| 11:18:46
| Adrian Sutil vaults up the order in his Spyker and is an amazing fifth fastest. That really must be a soft tyre low tank run with respect to the package he has. |
| 11:19:59
| Yes, Sutil is the first to run on the softer Bridgestone Potenza and it is quite a performance jump. Many others will see that and have a try now. |
| 11:20:53
| Raikkonen is back out, joining Schumacher and Vettel. After a long stop, Coulthard is back out too. |
| 11:21:06
| Now Massa rejoins the circuit. |
| 11:22:28
| Alonso and Hamilton head out. The circuit will be busy in the remaining seven minutes. |
| 11:23:19
| Ralf Schumacher gains three position and is now ninth. |
| 11:23:39
| Coulthard has moves ahead of Liuzzi. |
| 11:24:05
| Raikkonen moves P1 in his Ferrari ahead of Massa. |
| 11:24:16
| Sutil has pitted his Spyker. |
| 11:24:53
| Jarno Trulli picks up six positions and moves fifth for Toyota. |
| 11:26:09
| Raikkonen is on another fast lap. |
| 11:27:25
| Nico Rosberg vaults fifth fastest as Alonso moves ahead of team-mate Hamilton. |
| 11:27:49
| Ferrari and McLaren aside, most are trying the softer tyre now. |
| 11:28:31
| A big gain from Barrichello too on the softer tyre as he moves tenth in his Honda. Button is 18th and in the pits. |
| 11:30:04
| The chequered flag is out. |
| 11:30:41
| Alex Wurz makes a gain in his Williams and is now seventh. |
| 11:31:06
| Webber has lost some small aero devices on his Red Bull while on the main straight. |
| 11:31:20
| Raikkonen improves his own best by two-tenths. |
| 11:32:02
| The order now seems set with Kimi Raikkonen setting the pace in opening parctice for the Japanese Gramd Prix. |
| 11:32:39
| Felipe Massa is second fastest ahead of Alonso, Hamilton, Rosberg, Kubica, Wurz, Trulli, Sutil and Davidson. |
