Mercedes returned to the top of the timing screens during final practice for the Japanese Grand Prix as the drivers got their first dry running of the weekend.
Rosberg led team-mate Lewis Hamilton by just under three-tenths with Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo a further two-tenths back in third.
The session was relatively uneventful with the dry weather providing some meaningful running for the teams.
2015 Japanese Grand Prix Practice Times (FP3):
| # | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
| 01 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1:33.995 | – | 19 |
| 02 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | 1:34.292 | 0.297 | 20 |
| 03 | Daniel Ricciardo | Red Bull | 1:34.497 | 0.502 | 22 |
| 04 | Valtteri Bottas | Williams | 1:34.797 | 0.802 | 27 |
| 05 | Felipe Massa | Williams | 1:34.934 | 0.939 | 25 |
| 06 | Kimi Raikkonen | Ferrari | 1:35.082 | 1.087 | 16 |
| 07 | Max Verstappen | Toro Rosso | 1:35.160 | 1.165 | 26 |
| 08 | Sebastian Vettel | Ferrari | 1:35.222 | 1.227 | 16 |
| 09 | Romain Grosjean | Lotus | 1:35.602 | 1.607 | 20 |
| 10 | Carlos Sainz | Toro Rosso | 1:35.963 | 1.968 | 29 |
| 11 | Nico Hulkenberg | Force India | 1:36.110 | 2.115 | 19 |
| 12 | Jenson Button | McLaren | 1:36.174 | 2.179 | 15 |
| 13 | Marcus Ericsson | Sauber | 1:36.199 | 2.204 | 19 |
| 14 | Daniil Kvyat | Red Bull | 1:36.294 | 2.299 | 23 |
| 15 | Pastor Maldonado | Lotus | 1:36.307 | 2.312 | 21 |
| 16 | Fernando Alonso | McLaren | 1:36.360 | 2.365 | 18 |
| 17 | Sergio Perez | Force India | 1:36.430 | 2.435 | 21 |
| 18 | Felipe Nasr | Sauber | 1:36.919 | 2.924 | 24 |
| 19 | Will Stevens | Marussia | 1:39.653 | 5.658 | 24 |
| 20 | Alexander Rossi | Marussia | 1:39.819 | 5.824 | 22 |
