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Autosport

Sport

Haydn Cobb

F1 Japanese GP qualifying - Start time, how to watch & more

Mercedes Ferrari F1 Red Bull Sky Sports Alfa Romeo Charles Leclerc Japanese GP Channel 4 McLaren

After losing his record F1 wins streak and Red Bull’s 100% victory run in 2023, Verstappen bounced back by topping both Friday practice sessions, going quickest in FP2 by 0.320s from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Lando Norris continued McLaren’s encouraging gains by taking third, ahead of Singapore GP winner Carlos Sainz in the other Ferrari, as Mercedes’ Geroge Russell rounded out the top five.

But it was a difficult day for Verstappen’s Red Bull team-mate Sergio Perez who was a second off the pace down in ninth, as he struggled with car balance around Suzuka.

Lewis Hamilton also had a low-key day for Mercedes as he finished FP2 in 14th, while Alpine’s Pierre Gasly caused an early end to the session after crashing at Degner 2.

What time does qualifying start for the F1 Japanese Grand Prix?

Qualifying for the Japanese GP starts at 3pm local time (7am BST), using the regular Q1, Q2 and Q3 knockout session format.

Date: Saturday 23 September 2023
Start time: 3pm local time – 7am BST

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB19 (Photo by: Zak Mauger / Motorsport Images)

How can I watch Formula 1?

In the United Kingdom Formula 1 is broadcast live on Sky Sports, except for the British GP which is shown live on both Sky Sports and Channel 4, with highlights shown on Channel 4 several hours after the race has finished. Live streaming through NOW is also available in the UK.

Sky Sports F1, which broadcasts the F1 races, can be added as part of the Sky Sports channels which costs £24 a month for new customers. Sky Sports can also be accessed through NOW with a one-off day payment of £11.98p or a month membership of £34.99p per month.

How can I watch F1 Japanese GP qualifying?

In the United Kingdom every F1 practice, qualifying and race is broadcast live on Sky Sports F1, with Japanese GP qualifying coverage starting at 6:00am BST on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event.

Channel: Sky Sports F1
Start time: 6:00am BST 23 September 2023

Autosport will be running a live text coverage of qualifying here.

George Russell, Mercedes F1 W14, alongside Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes F1 W14 (Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images)

When can I watch the highlights of F1 Japanese GP qualifying?

In the United Kingdom, Channel 4 is broadcasting highlights of qualifying for the Japanese GP at 11:10am BST on Saturday morning. The full programme will run for 90 minutes, covering both qualifying and wrapping up the major talking points of the race weekend so far.

For the entire 2023 F1 season, Channel 4 will broadcast highlights of every qualifying and race of each event. The highlights will also be available on Channel 4’s on-demand catch-up services.

Channel: Channel 4
Start time: 11:10am BST 23 September 2023

Will F1 Japanese GP qualifying be on the radio?

Live radio coverage of every practice, qualifying and race for the 2023 F1 season will be available on the BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC 5 Live Sports Extra or via the BBC Sport website.

Coverage of Japanese GP qualifying will start at 7:00am BST on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sounds app.

What's the weather forecast for qualifying at Suzuka?

Hot and sunny conditions are forecast for Saturday for the start of qualifying at Suzuka. The temperature is set to be 29 degrees Celsius at the start of qualifying, with a very low chance of rain.

Japanese Grand Prix FP2 Results

Driver Info

Cla	Driver	#	Chassis	Engine	Laps	Time	Interval	km/h
1	M. Verstappen Red Bull Racing	1	Red Bull	Red Bull	19	1'30.688		230.517
2	C. Leclerc Ferrari	16	Ferrari	Ferrari	23	+0.320	0.320	229.707
3	L. Norris McLaren	4	McLaren	Mercedes	22	+0.464	0.144	229.344
4	C. Sainz Ferrari	55	Ferrari	Ferrari	22	+0.549	0.085	229.130
5	G. Russell Mercedes	63	Mercedes	Mercedes	22	+0.640	0.091	228.902
6	F. Alonso Aston Martin Racing	14	Aston Martin	Mercedes	22	+0.804	0.164	228.492
7	A. Albon Williams	23	Williams	Mercedes	23	+0.867	0.063	228.334
8	O. Piastri McLaren	81	McLaren	Mercedes	22	+0.974	0.107	228.068
9	S. Perez Red Bull Racing	11	Red Bull	Red Bull	24	+1.022	0.048	227.948
10	V. Bottas Alfa Romeo	77	Alfa Romeo	Ferrari	22	+1.051	0.029	227.876
11	L. Stroll Aston Martin Racing	18	Aston Martin	Mercedes	22	+1.083	0.032	227.797
12	E. Ocon Alpine	31	Alpine	Renault	22	+1.106	0.023	227.740
13	N. Hulkenberg Haas F1 Team	27	Haas	Ferrari	24	+1.109	0.003	227.732
14	L. Hamilton Mercedes	44	Mercedes	Mercedes	21	+1.141	0.032	227.653
15	L. Lawson AlphaTauri	40	AlphaTauri	Red Bull	23	+1.453	0.312	226.882
16	Z. Guanyu Alfa Romeo	24	Alfa Romeo	Ferrari	16	+1.477	0.024	226.823
17	K. Magnussen Haas F1 Team	20	Haas	Ferrari	23	+1.481	0.004	226.813
18	Y. Tsunoda AlphaTauri	22	AlphaTauri	Red Bull	26	+1.490	0.009	226.791
19	P. Gasly Alpine	10	Alpine	Renault	22	+1.491	0.001	226.789
20	L. Sargeant Williams	2	Williams	Mercedes	25	+1.632	0.141	226.442
View full results

Japanese Grand Prix FP1 Results

Driver Info

Cla	Driver	#	Chassis	Engine	Laps	Time	Interval	km/h
1	M. Verstappen Red Bull Racing	1	Red Bull	Red Bull	25	1'31.647		228.105
2	C. Sainz Ferrari	55	Ferrari	Ferrari	24	+0.626	0.626	226.558
3	L. Norris McLaren	4	McLaren	Mercedes	24	+0.745	0.119	226.266
4	C. Leclerc Ferrari	16	Ferrari	Ferrari	25	+0.927	0.182	225.821
5	Y. Tsunoda AlphaTauri	22	AlphaTauri	Red Bull	21	+0.950	0.023	225.765
6	F. Alonso Aston Martin Racing	14	Aston Martin	Mercedes	23	+1.003	0.053	225.636
7	O. Piastri McLaren	81	McLaren	Mercedes	26	+1.066	0.063	225.482
8	A. Albon Williams	23	Williams	Mercedes	24	+1.344	0.278	224.808
9	L. Lawson AlphaTauri	40	AlphaTauri	Red Bull	28	+1.358	0.014	224.775
10	L. Stroll Aston Martin Racing	18	Aston Martin	Mercedes	17	+1.393	0.035	224.690
11	S. Perez Red Bull Racing	11	Red Bull	Red Bull	25	+1.396	0.003	224.683
12	P. Gasly Alpine	10	Alpine	Renault	23	+1.482	0.086	224.475
13	G. Russell Mercedes	63	Mercedes	Mercedes	24	+1.663	0.181	224.040
14	N. Hulkenberg Haas F1 Team	27	Haas	Ferrari	24	+1.801	0.138	223.709
15	E. Ocon Alpine	31	Alpine	Renault	22	+1.869	0.068	223.546
16	L. Hamilton Mercedes	44	Mercedes	Mercedes	22	+2.052	0.183	223.110
17	V. Bottas Alfa Romeo	77	Alfa Romeo	Ferrari	24	+2.213	0.161	222.727
18	K. Magnussen Haas F1 Team	20	Haas	Ferrari	23	+2.328	0.115	222.454
19	L. Sargeant Williams	2	Williams	Mercedes	27	+2.565	0.237	221.895
20	Z. Guanyu Alfa Romeo	24	Alfa Romeo	Ferrari	23	+3.184	0.619	220.446
View full results