Rain delays Japan qualifying

Suzuka - Qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix has been delayed after heavy rain lashed the Suzuka circuit on Saturday. A drenched track for the morning practice session saw just two drivers recording a lap time in the 60-minute session.

Qualifying was postponed from the 2:00 pm (0500 GMT) timeslot on three occasions, with a further announcement to be made at 3:30 pm Japan time.

Toro Rosso's Jaime Alguersuari led Saturday morning practice, but the Spaniard was 24 seconds slower than the pace-setting lap of Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel in the dry on Friday.

Timo Glock of Virgin Racing was the only other driver to record a lap time in the treacherous conditions.

Rivers of water ran across the circuit at Turn 1, a 235 kilometres an hour right-hander, while puddles an inch deep pooled at the final chicane at Turn 17, causing several drivers to spin.

The rain intensified soon after Saturday practice finished. Weather reports in the area on Friday evening indicated that approximately 90mm of rain could fall at Suzuka over a 24-hour period.