Live: Japanese Grand Prix

Positions for 0530 BST start of 67-lap race:

* Race being run behind safety car

1 L Hamilton (McLaren)

2 F Alonso (McLaren)

3 K Raikkonen (Ferrari)

4 F Massa (Ferrari)

5 N Heidfeld (BMW Sauber)

6 J Button (Honda)

7 M Webber (Red Bull)

LATEST ACTION AS IT HAPPENS (ALL TIMES BST)

0530: This is the first time a Grand Prix has started behind the safety car since Brazil in 2003 and the talk is that, with less downforce than their rivals, it will be the Ferraris that will struggle most in these conditions.

0525: Right, while technical issues are a go-go at BBC Television Centre, it's all about tyre choice and tactics at Fuji. The fog is heavy, the weather appalling, and Briton Jenson Button is positively licking his lips - he loves the wet. The cars are lined up on the grid behind the safety car and this could be another crazy race - though Hamilton won't mind things as they are you would have thought...

0515: Conditions are appalling at Fuji with the scheduled start of the Japanese Grand Prix just minutes away.

The rain is bucketing down, the drivers are complaining of rivers running across the track and the race will start behind the safety car.

The pressure is high on Lewis Hamilton, who starts from pole position is intent on stopping team-mate Fernando Alonso further eating into his championship lead, which is down to just two points.

Source: BBC Sport