06:50
Norris radio
Seems like Norris wants team orders: "What is he doing?" he asks his engineer.
F1 Japanese Grand Prix 2023 - As it happened
Follow the 2023 F1 Japanese Grand Prix here with the Crash.net live blog as Red Bull look to secure their sixth constructors' championship.
Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez clashed in the early stages, while a big Turn 1 incident cost the Alfa Romeos.
- The race started at 6am UK time.
- How to watch F1 Japanese Grand Prix: Live stream for free
24 Sep 2023
06:49
Russell finally pits
Russell comes into the pit lane for a set of hards - likely he's going to do a one-stop here. Everyone else, two stops.
06:46
Lap 23/53
Piastri is now in DRS range of Russell in the battle for second.
06:43
Into 130R
Hamilton breezes past his former teammate into the infamous 130R corner.
06:42
Lap 21/53
Sainz gets past Alonso and Ocon - he's up to sixth now.
Hamilton is now right behind Alonso in the battle for eighth.
06:39
Verstappen
Verstappen takes the race lead after Russell runs wide at the hairpin in the middle part of the lap.
06:39
Order on Lap 19
Russell, Verstappen, Piastri, Norris, Ocon, Leclerc, Alonso, Sainz, Hamilton and Tsunoda.
06:37
More pit stops
Norris and Leclerc come into the pit lane now for fresh rubber.
Hards for Norris; mediums for Leclerc.
06:36
Pit stops
Verstappen and Hamilton come into the pit lane for new hard tyres.
Norris takes the lead of the race, 2.3s ahead of Leclerc.
06:34
Lap 16/53
Hamilton seems to be struggling with damage - Russell is now right behind him.
06:32
Perez is out of the race
A disasterous race for Perez - Red Bull have retired his car.
06:31
VSC ending
A great call from McLaren to bring Piastri in (maybe a tad lucky as well).
It means he should get ahead of Norris when they pit.
06:30
Perez radio
"The car doesn't feel right".
06:30
Lap 14/53
Piastri comes into the pit lane as the VSC is deployed.
06:28
More contact for Perez
He's spun Magnussen. Shocking move from the Red Bull driver.
06:26
Order on Lap 12
Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Leclerc, Sainz, hamilton, Russell, Stroll and Gasly.
Alonso is in the pit lane for hards.
06:23
Penalty for Perez
He's been given a 5s penalty for a Safety Car infringement.
06:21
Verstappen
Domination from Verstappen so far with his lead now at 2.5s.
Piastri is running 3.3s off in third.
06:19
Order on Lap 7
Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Leclerc, Sainz, Alonso, Hamilton, Russell, Lawson and Tsunoda.
06:18
Bottas
A bit of a shocking race for Bottas.
Replays show him trying to overtake Sargeant but he gets clattered into, sending the Alfa Romeo into the gravel trap.
06:17
Mercedes
A great scrap between Hamilton and Russell on Lap 6.
Russell gets past into the final chicane, while Hamilton gets back through into Turn 1.
06:15
Lap 5/53
We're back underway at the Japanese Grand Prix.
No changes to the order in the top 10.
06:14
Perez
He's been noted by the FIA for a possible "Safety Car infringement".
06:13
Safety Car in this lap
The race will resume on Lap 5 with Verstappen leading from Norris, Piastri and Leclerc.
06:12
Order on Lap 3
Verstappen, Norris, Piastri, Leclerc, Sainz, Alonso, Hamilton, Russell, Lawson, Tsunoda, Stroll, Hulkenberg, Gasly, Magnussen, Ocon, Zhou, Albon, Perez, Sargeant and Bottas.
