Jack Leslie F1: 2014 Japanese Grand Prix Thursday Snapshot

It was a busy day in the Suzuka paddock on Thursday, ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix on-track action kicking off.

Drivers walked the circuit with their engineers, attended media sessions and met fans. Meanwhile the mechanics prepared the cars for first practice in the garages. Here is a look at what went on at the circuit on Thursday.

Preview and track guide: http://bit.ly/1pBx6jc
F1 Flashback: http://bit.ly/1qUWl05
One Year Rewind: http://richlandf1.com/?p=28839

The Japanese F1 fans were out in force at the Suzuka circuit on Thursday.

A few Susie Wolff cartoon cardboard cut-outs were spotted in the paddock.

Preparations were in full swing on Thursday morning at Mercedes, ahead of Friday's practice sessions.

A Ferrari fan showcased his rather unusual helmet design in the pit lane.

Tyres are lined up in the Suzuka paddock ahead of the race weekend.

Four-time Japanese Grand Prix winner Sebastian Vettel waved to fans on his track walk.

Valtteri Bottas spoke to broadcast media outside the Williams Martini Racing hospitality unit on Thursday.

Roberto Merhi, who will make his second FP1 appearance for Caterham on Friday, met F1 fans in front of the team's garage.

Meanwhile Vettel, Kamui Kobayashi, Jenson Button, Nico Hulkenberg, Jules Bianchi and Romain Grosjean were the six drivers in the FIA press conference.

Button classes the Japanese Grand Prix as a second home race. He is looking forward to returning to the Suzuka circuit and is expecting rain to play a big part in the weekend.

Kobayashi admitted in the press conference that he doesn't know much about Caterham's current situation, but is happy the team is competing in Japan - his home event.

Vettel is confident that Red Bull Racing will be closer to current pace-setters Mercedes at Suzuka, adding that a power-unit related penalty is inevitable.

Bianchi admitted in the press conference that should a seat become available at Ferrari in 2015, he feels ready to make the move to the Maranello-based squad.

A heavy rain storm swept across the Suzuka circuit mid-way through the day, causing those in the paddock to run for cover.

Despite the wet weather conditions, the main grandstand opposite the start/finish straight was still packed with fans.

It was a wet and windy autograph session for the F1 drivers and fans.

McLaren drivers Kevin Magnussen and Button showed off their special Japanese Grand Prix helmets on Thursday, which you can see above.

Marcus Ericsson tried out the new F1 2014 game, which comes out later this month.

Lewis Hamilton found his mini-me in Japan, who even had his own Roscoe.

2 October 2014

2014 Japanese Grand Prix Thursday Snapshot

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