By BMW Sauber F1 Team
September 29 2007

The third free practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix virtually didn't happen. Due to rain and dense fog, the rescue helicopter was unable to take off for much of the session. Just four minutes after the session finally got underway at 11:30hrs local time it was red-flagged as visibility worsened once again. For teams and drivers, the third free practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix was mainly about waiting. At 11:00hrs local time (03:00hrs BST), the start was postponed by 15 minutes due to fog and at 04:15hrs, race control announced a further 15-minute delay.

At 04:30hrs, the lights at the pit lane exit finally went green, and the BMW Sauber F1 Team drivers as well as the rest of the field - apart from Ferrari's Kimi Räikkönen - went out for an installation lap on the wet track. Alexander Wurz, Nico Rosberg (both Williams) and Toyota's Jarno Trulli each completed a timed lap, with the 1:32.746-minute lap of Wurz being the quickest. After just four minutes, however, the session was red-flagged as visibility deteriorated again. Then it was back to waiting - until FIA race director Charlie Whiting finally decided that the session wouldn't be re-started again.

Due to this decision, we can expect a particularly thrilling qualifying session. On a new track, and with no data available for a wet-weather set-up, Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica as well as all their rivals, will have to perform a gamble regarding the qualifying set-up.