Threatened by Typhoon Hagibis, the Japanese Grand Prix, the 17th round of the Formula 1 World Championship, may not be disputed this weekend. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) will give its decision, the maintenance or cancellation of the race, Friday at midday.
The organizers of the Japanese Formula 1 GP this weekend will take a decision Friday at 12 am local time (05:00) on the program of the event, threatened by the arrival on Saturday of Typhoon Hagibis, announced Thursday the International Federation of the automobile (FIA). The storm has already caused Thursday the cancellation of two matches of Rugby World Cup, England-France and New Zealand - Italy, which were to be played Saturday.
As it stands, the third free practice session and qualifying on Saturday is threatened due to the rain and strong winds that are expected and that of Sunday race is not assured, the weather is still uncertain. .
Regarding the qualifications, which determine the positions of the drivers on the grid of departure of the Grand Prix, two options are possible: a postponement to Sunday before the race or the use of the ranking of the second session of free practice run Friday afternoon.
Whatever happens, a postponement to Monday is impossible, says the FIA. The decision on a possible change of program rests with the local authorities, in consultation with the FIA, F1 and the local organizers.
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Precedents
The Japanese GP has been disrupted by typhoons several times. In 2004 and 2010, qualifying took place before the race on Sunday. In very bad weather conditions in 2014, the French driver Jules Bianchi had suffered a serious accident that later caused his death.
On Thursday, the pilots supported the possibility of such a change. "This decision is not so much for us, who can wait warm in the garages, but for the public. [...] I do not think anyone wants to risk someone else's life, " said Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) of Germany.
"We will see, but it looks unlikely that we were driving on Saturday," said Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), who said he had nothing against "a little more free time Saturday and get up a little earlier Sunday. "
Hagibis is described as "violent" , the highest degree of classification used by the Japan Weather Agency (JMA). "It is currently a large and violent typhoon, " said a JMA meteorologist. As he moves north and approaches Japan, he will be downgraded to + very strong +. But it will not be less violent on arrival, " bringing heavy rain and gusts of wind at over 100 km / h.
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Formula 1. Grand Prix of Japan: decision Friday at mid-day on maintaining the raceOuest-France.frENLARGE
