Formula 1 drivers expect the arrival of Super Typhoon Hagibis will prevent them from taking to the track on Saturday at Suzuka.
Final practice and qualifying are slated to take place at the circuit tomorrow, but the approaching storm has cast doubt over whether the sessions will take place. The Formula Four support event has been cancelled in order to give priority to F1’s track time.“I’ve got my speedboat on standby so I’m ready to go on Saturday,” joked Max Verstappen ahead of the race weekend.
“It’s going to be very clear if it’s possible or not,” he said. “At the moment it doesn’t really look very likely on Saturday. Sunday looks fine but we’ll see.”
Charles Leclerc said “it’s pretty clear if the typhoon is going to come here there’s no way we can drive.
“[From] my previous experience, I have only done one year and a half in Formula 1 but they have always been quite safe with the conditions. They’ve always asked us what we thought about the track once we we’re in the car. So we will see.”
FIA race director Michael Masi will make any call about when the cars can take to the track. Carlos Sainz Jnr says he has “full trust in Michael and his team that we will run in safe conditions if we do so.”
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Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
10th October 2019, 8:51
I know this is a typo, but it also sounds like a great solution. Shame it will never happen.
Matteo (@m-bagattini)
10th October 2019, 9:04
@eurobrun for a moment I was bursting joy because I thought it was Friday but than the harsh reality hit me
Euro Brun (@eurobrun)
10th October 2019, 9:12
@m-bagattini
I know what you mean. I’m travelling at the moment, so lost all concept of time and date!
If Sunday’s race gets delayed by more than 90 mins, I’ll wind up missing the end for a flight!
Welsh Chris
10th October 2019, 9:07
Dear Drivers, you can drive in any conditions but you may need to drive a bit slower that’s all. Yes, it’ll be difficult but that’s why you’re paid the megabucks.
Sincerely,
Fans
Matteo (@m-bagattini)
10th October 2019, 9:18
That’s pretty thoughtless actually
JC
10th October 2019, 9:54
Historically this has not turned out so well.
No thanks. I’d rather have no race to watch this weekend than that.
petebaldwin (@)
10th October 2019, 10:10
I wonder what the various insurance companies involved would think of letting them qualify in the middle of a typhoon….
Actually, no I don’t. It’s not happening.
Dewald Nel (@ho3n3r)
10th October 2019, 10:12
They simply don’t have the tyres for that. If it’s as bad as it sounds to be, they’ll just be going off in a straight line at 40KM/h.
They used to have monsoon tyres 20 years back, but a lot of testing went into that, as well as costs to transport them – 2 things we can’t have any more.
MXMXD (@mxmxd)
10th October 2019, 13:16
No fan really cares for watching grown men drive around in circles at 50 kmh.
Islander
10th October 2019, 10:59
The simple solution is obviously a glass canopy to cover the circuit like the one on centre court Wimbledon.
Question is whether there’s enough time to build it before quali….
Keith Campbell (@keithedin)
10th October 2019, 12:49
But we’ll have to wait for the official Whitehouse weather report to know the true path of the typhoon…
NewDust
10th October 2019, 15:32
Ain’t nobody driving if the helicopters can’t take off.
budchekov (@budchekov)
10th October 2019, 16:00
Correct. Comment of the day ?
Nulla Pax (@nullapax)
10th October 2019, 17:49
Bah – back in the days of real drivers they would simply have said,
“No point in goggles today old chap – they will only get rain on them what!”
Just tell the teams that due to the conditions Championship Points will be quadrupled for this race and I bet you will see a few of there guys out there hoping not to lifted up to the Land of OZ ;P
budchekov (@budchekov)
11th October 2019, 1:04
“There I was, up to me neck in muck and bullets”; these younguns could do with a cold shower or two, toughen them up. :)