Much overnight drama that has pushed Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello and Adrian Sutil down the starting grid by 5 places each. Jenson Button, Rubens Barrichello, Adrian Sutil, and Fernando Alonso were all handed five-place grid penalties for failing to slow adequately under yellow flags. Sebastien Buemi received an identical penalty for impeding other cars and causing a potential hazard to other drivers.

But the top three are still the same and a win today could certainly open up the title fight for the final three races of the year. Despite the penalty of 5 places, Sutil will start in 8th with Glock missing the race. And of course, there's Mark Webber starting from the pits.

FINAL LAP: And Seb Vettel wins in Japan! But Jenson Button scores a point. So the lead is down but only to 16 points with two races remaining. Could still go down to Abu Dhabi for a championship result.

Hamilton finishes third after a brilliant Trulli. Raikkonen, Rosberg, Heidfeld, Barrichello and Button are the other points scorers. Barrichello closes in on Button by another point and is a title contender now.

LAP 51: Hamilton pulling clear of Raikkonen as Vettel retains his lead comfortably. Alonso vying for 9th place, but Kubica hanging on. And Button all set to score. Sutil and Liuzzi in 13 and 14... and Sutil must rue lost points. Too aggressive?

LAP 49: Safety car will be out at the end of this lap. And then, four laps to a frantic finish. With Hamilton's KERS not working, Raikkonen could have a shot at the third place on the restart. His KERS is working fine. No change of positions at the restart.

LAP 48: Webber pits yet again. His 5th stop. Can't remember the last time anyone had so many stops. It's almost like Red Bull is testing this car now! Alguersuari takes the ambulance out of Suzuka. That has to be the busiest car this weekend in Japan!

LAP 45: Very big crash indeed for Jaime. And that will mean trouble for Vettel at the restart. Lots of debris on track. Hamilton has KERS problem. So he is just carrying extra weight now!

LAP 44: Yellow flags as Alguersuari has a huge accident. Safety car is out. Could be game on now as Vettel will slow down and Hamilton and Trulli will close up. And Rosberg will suffer. Horrible crash for Jaime. And he isn't out of the car yet. 

LAP 43: Liuzzi takes his second stop. Barrichello has come back out ahead of Button and he is in points position. Rosberg in 4th still.

LAP 40: Vettel takes his pit stop number two. And brilliant drama down the pit lane as Trulli pips Hamilton for second place. Thrilled Toyota. Kovalainen and Fisichella having a pow-wow just at the pitlane exit and Kovi winning that one! KERS to the rescue!

LAP 38: And Hamilton takes his second pit stop as well now. Once again beating the Red Bulls to the pitlane.

LAP 37: Nick Heidfeld has his second pit stop. And he has lost position to Kimi now...

LAP 32: Alonso has finally pitted. Certainly a one-stopper. And he rejoins in P14.

LAP 29: Vettel continues to extend his lead over the rest. Looking very dominant now.

LAP 28: Nakajima takes his first and possibly only pit stop. Only the Renault cars left to pit now.

LAP 27: Just over the halfway mark now. Vettel looks set for 10 points. And he will hope that Button can't rise past 10th place.

LAP 24: Kovalainen pits, Button stays ahead of him. Kubica due in any time. Hamilton just told that he needs to gain 1 more sec over Trulli by the time the second pit stop comes around.

LAP 23: Alguersuari makes his first stop. He is close to scoring today... in 10th after rejoining.

LAP 22: And Rosberg into the pits now. That'll put Hamilton back into second place.

LAP 20: Sutil has fallen way behind to 17th place. His race totally ruined by that incident. Liuzzi meanwhile is up to 12th place. Jenson Button is now down to 14th after a pit stop. behind Fernando Alonso.

LAP 18: Vettel also has had his first pit stop. And he rejoins in the lead. Hamilton still behind Rosberg.

LAP 15: Pit stop for Hamilton. Pit stop for Sutil too. Hamilton rejoins behind Rosberg in P7.

LAP 14: And the first incident of the race... Sutil spinning about and making contact with Heikki Kovalainen. The second time in two races that he's spun about! And that allows Button, Kubica and Fisi to move ahead of him. And Button into the points now!

LAP 12: Buemi retires. Not much info available apart from that right now!

LAP 11: No retirements so far. It's interesting that Webber is still running! Vettel of course has the fastest lap so far.

LAP 9: Sutil has dropped to 9th place and is desperately looking for a way through, but Heikki defending staunchly. The first round of pits will take place soon for some drivers. Most are on a two-stop strategy.

LAP 6: Hamilton and Trulli were being seriously outpaced by Vettel in the initial laps, but they are both up to speed now, as it were!

LAP 3: And Webber into the pits again. This time for trouble around the cockpit area. We don't see him continuing for too long. Button rising through the ranks steadily. Up to 10th place now. He needs to make sure he scores every race. The mathematical chance Vettel has can only get better if Button doesn't score.

LAP 2: Mark Webber has already pitted. Change of tyres for the Australian.

OPENING LAP: And we're off. Great start for the front runners. Sutil has a good move in on the first turn but Hamilton, Vettel and Trulli hold on to their positions. Sutil gains a place as does Heikki. In fact Heikki is up to P9 now.