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

The F1 world champion led a Red Bull 1-2 in opening practice which was red-flagged midway through as Logan Sargeant crashed heavily, which ruled him out of FP2 as his Williams car was repaired.

But the American driver missed relatively little running as damp conditions meant no representative running in the dry or wet was possible in second practice. Oscar Piastri topped the session from Lewis Hamilton with a late lap on the softs.

With track time limited for all the drivers, it means final practice on Saturday will be vital to nail set-up ahead of qualifying and the race at Suzuka.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20, Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-24 (Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images)

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 6 April 2024
Start time: 3pm local time – 7am BST

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 £18 a month for new customers. Sky Sports can also be accessed through NOW with a one-off day payment of £11.99p or a month membership of £34.99p per month.

Pierre Gasly, Alpine A524 (Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images)

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 and Sky Sports Main Event
Start time: 6:00am BST 6 April 2024

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

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 2024 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 6 April 2024

Will F1 Japanese GP qualifying be on the radio?

Live radio coverage of every practice, qualifying and race for the 2024 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 6:55am GMT on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and the BBC Sounds app.

Marshals display the rain light (Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images)

What's the weather forecast for qualifying in Suzuka?

Cloudy and mild conditions are forecast for Saturday afternoon for the start of qualifying in Suzuka. The temperature is set to be 19 degrees Celsius at the start of qualifying, with a very small chance of rain and low winds.

Japanese GP FP2 results

Main Information Additional Data Driver Info Driver Info

1

 - 

4

Main Information Additional Data 1  -  2
Cla	Driver	#		Chassis	Engine	Laps	Time	Interval	km/h
1	O. Piastri McLaren	81		McLaren	Mercedes	7	1'34.725		220.693
2	L. Hamilton Mercedes	44		Mercedes	Mercedes	6	+0.501 1'35.226	0.501	219.532
3	C. Leclerc Ferrari	16		Ferrari	Ferrari	4	+4.035 1'38.760	3.534	211.676
4	Y. Tsunoda RB	22		RB	Red Bull	8	+6.221 1'40.946	2.186	207.092
5	D. Ricciardo RB	3		RB	Red Bull	9	+7.188 1'41.913	0.967	205.127
6	Z. Guanyu Sauber	24		Sauber	Ferrari	7
7	V. Bottas Sauber	77		Sauber	Ferrari	7
8	A. Albon Williams	23		Williams	Mercedes	5
9	K. Magnussen Haas F1 Team	20		Haas	Ferrari	4
10	N. Hulkenberg Haas F1 Team	27		Haas	Ferrari	5
11	C. Sainz Ferrari	55		Ferrari	Ferrari	3
12	L. Norris McLaren	4		McLaren	Mercedes	3
13	E. Ocon Alpine	31		Alpine	Renault	3
14	M. Verstappen Red Bull Racing	1		Red Bull	Red Bull	0
15	L. Sargeant Williams	2		Williams	Mercedes	0
16	P. Gasly Alpine	10		Alpine	Renault	0
17	S. Perez Red Bull Racing	11		Red Bull	Red Bull	0
18	F. Alonso Aston Martin Racing	14		Aston Martin	Mercedes	0
19	L. Stroll Aston Martin Racing	18		Aston Martin	Mercedes	0
20	G. Russell Mercedes	63		Mercedes	Mercedes	0
View full results

Japanese GP FP1 results

Main Information Additional Data Driver Info Driver Info

1

 - 

4

Main Information Additional Data 1  -  2
Cla	Driver	#		Chassis	Engine	Laps	Time	Interval	km/h
1	M. Verstappen Red Bull Racing	1		Red Bull	Red Bull	18	1'30.056		232.135
2	S. Perez Red Bull Racing	11		Red Bull	Red Bull	18	+0.181 1'30.237	0.181	231.669
3	C. Sainz Ferrari	55		Ferrari	Ferrari	20	+0.213 1'30.269	0.032	231.587
4	G. Russell Mercedes	63		Mercedes	Mercedes	18	+0.474 1'30.530	0.261	230.920
5	L. Hamilton Mercedes	44		Mercedes	Mercedes	23	+0.487 1'30.543	0.013	230.886
6	C. Leclerc Ferrari	16		Ferrari	Ferrari	18	+0.502 1'30.558	0.015	230.848
7	F. Alonso Aston Martin Racing	14		Aston Martin	Mercedes	20	+0.543 1'30.599	0.041	230.744
8	O. Piastri McLaren	81		McLaren	Mercedes	23	+1.109 1'31.165	0.566	229.311
9	Y. Tsunoda RB	22		RB	Red Bull	20	+1.174 1'31.230	0.065	229.148
10	L. Norris McLaren	4		McLaren	Mercedes	22	+1.184 1'31.240	0.010	229.123
11	E. Ocon Alpine	31		Alpine	Renault	19	+1.879 1'31.935	0.695	227.391
12	A. Albon Williams	23		Williams	Mercedes	18	+1.887 1'31.943	0.008	227.371
13	N. Hulkenberg Haas F1 Team	27		Haas	Ferrari	19	+1.902 1'31.958	0.015	227.334
14	V. Bottas Sauber	77		Sauber	Ferrari	17	+1.998 1'32.054	0.096	227.097
15	L. Stroll Aston Martin Racing	18		Aston Martin	Mercedes	17	+1.999 1'32.055	0.001	227.094
16	A. Iwasa RB	40		RB	Red Bull	22	+2.047 1'32.103	0.048	226.976
17	P. Gasly Alpine	10		Alpine	Renault	23	+2.221 1'32.277	0.174	226.548
18	Z. Guanyu Sauber	24		Sauber	Ferrari	18	+2.582 1'32.638	0.361	225.665
19	K. Magnussen Haas F1 Team	20		Haas	Ferrari	21	+2.747 1'32.803	0.165	225.264
20	L. Sargeant Williams	2		Williams	Mercedes	10	+3.148 1'33.204	0.401	224.295
View full results