Live text
Formula 1
Japanese GP
F1 Japanese GP Live Commentary and Updates - Race day
Minute-by-minute updates for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka
A week after Singapore, Suzuka also returns to the calendar following a three-year absence, where Max Verstappen can claim a second F1 world title if he is 112 points clear of second place in the standings at the chequered flag.
The Red Bull driver starts on pole for Sunday's race, having escaped a penalty after a near-miss with Norris at 130R as both drivers came to prepare for their opening laps in the final stage of qualifying.
He will line up ahead of the Ferrari pair of Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, with Red Bull's Sergio Perez joining the latter on the second row.
Live Standings
presented by
Stopped
Summary
Live Text
Sort by
Newest first
Oldest first
Newest first
There's clearly a lot of tension given events, but the Aston Martin mechanics are trying to keep the crowd upbeat by leading a Mexican wave from the pitlane. While down at McLaren a game of Uno has broken out.
Twitter
Breaking news
The latest on the Gasly and tractor incident:
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/fia-stewards-to-investigate-gasly-for-red-flag-speeding-after-tractor-incident/10381958/
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/fia-stewards-to-investigate-gasly-for-red-flag-speeding-after-tractor-incident/10381958/
There's one hour and 30 minutes left on the clock now. Doesn't seem to be any news on the weather situation, so we move.
Twitter
Rain
In terms of getting this race going again, the rain is still falling at Suzuka and there is no update on a potential restart time. It is soaking wet, so it might be a while.
The FIA seems to be responding to the tractor incident...by summoning Gasly for speeding under the safety car. Scapegoat?
Whatever happens today, it will be the latest episode of scrutiny of the FIA's procedures and serious questions will be asked about how this incident occurred.
I think there's a clear answer to the tractor debate: just don't have recovery vehicles on track when there's bad visibility.
TV replays have shown the recovery vehicle was on the track during the safety car period, so the safety car and the F1 car train passed it, and then the race is red-flagged at the moment Gasly went past it. Having pitted on lap one to clear the debris he picked up, Gasly was going quicker to catch up with the back of the pack behind the safety car when he passed the recovery vehicle.
The two-hour clock is now starting to tick down, as we've been parked up for about an hour. If we get going again, it'll likely go to time.
The medical car is undertaking an exploratory lap of the track to assess conditions. It still looks very wet.
The Gasly tractor incident will be investigated after the race, after having been noted by the FIA stewards earlier.
Breaking news
Here's the latest on Gasly passing a tractor on the track during the Japanese GP:
Twitter
A minimum of 10 minutes notice will be given for a restart, so as soon as we know more we'll pass it on so you'll have enough time to grab a cuppa. Or perhaps something stronger.
Quote
According to the FIA: "In relation to the recovery of the incident on Lap 3, the Safety Car had been deployed and the race neutralised. Car 10, which had collected damage and pitted behind the Safety Car, was then driving at high speed to catch up to the field. As conditions were deteriorating, the Red Flag was shown before Car 10 passed the location of the incident where it had been damaged the previous lap."
Ah, the restart has been suspended. We won't be getting going again just yet.
Twitter
We'll likely have 'a few' laps to clear up some of the standing water, and then hopefully we'll get back to it. It's still Sedgemoor Splash out there.
All drivers will be on wet tyres for the restart. Nice to know, even if largely assumed given the conditions.
Race control also states "there will be more than one lap behind the safety car". How many is anyone's guess.
The race will resume at 2.50pm local time - so in 15 minutes - with a rolling start.
"It's unacceptable," Gasly says of the tractor - and let's be honest, it is.
Here's the current order under the red flag: 1. Verstappen, 2. Leclerc, 3. Perez, 4. Ocon, 5. Hamilton, 6. Alonso, 7. Russell, 8. Ricciardo, 9. Tsunoda, 10. Schumacher, 11. Stroll, 12. Magnussen, 13. Norris, 14. Bottas, 15. Latifi, 16. Vettel, 17. Zhou, 18. Gasly. Out: Sainz, Albon.
Breaking news
It appears that, of all things, a tractor was trying to perform clean-up operations when the cars were still on track. Probably the worst place to do that, all told.
Twitter
Breaking news
Here's the latest on the red-flagged start to the Japanese GP:
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/japanese-gp-red-flagged-after-two-laps-due-to-heavy-rain/10381901/
Here's the latest from the FIA: "Red flag due to worsening weather conditions and recovery operations required on track. Restart time will be confirmed by race control."
Replays show a pretty handy start for Stroll, who rocketed up to 11th after sticking to the inside line for Turn 1.
"What the hell is that?" Gasly says over team radio. We concur that thought, as a replay of his onboard shows it was impossible for him to see in the spray and then the advertising board, which came on to the track in Sainz's crash, bounces on to his car.
As an addendum, just to try and nip any wet tyre lamentations in the bud - the visibility's the key issue here. With the wet tyre, there's even more spray...
In the opening lap mayhem, Zhou also spun in the wet but managed to get going again and is down in 17th place. Gasly, now not carrying a big advertising board on his front wing, is in 18th place and last under this red flag.
The rain's getting quite a lot worse out there now, with very visible rainfall on puddles around the circuit. Hopefully it'll ease off shortly.
Mechanical problem
Albon's retirement was mechanical rather than accident triggered. He got stuck in second gear halfway around the opening lap and pulled off and stopped to end his day early.
So here's a replay of the start, and Leclerc's initial launch was much better - but Verstappen got the wide line into Turn 1 and held the lead.
Red flag
The race has been red flagged!
The TV replays of the messy start reveal what happened to Vettel, he clashed with Alonso into the first corner but also appeared to aquaplane off.
Crash
Gasly's got an advertising board lodged on the front of his car, while Albon has also crashed out of the race. What's gone on there?
Safety car
It's Sainz in the wall! Sainz has spun on the exit of the hairpin and hit the wall! Safety car already.
By: autosport.com
Published:
Page:
