Qualifying set to be postponed

The FIA announced shortly before the 2pm start time that qualifying would be delayed for at least 30 minutes because of morning rain showers that had left the track too dangerous to run on.

With radar predictions suggesting further storms are on the way, qualifying is set to face further delays into the afternoon.

AUTOSPORT understands that if the session does not start by 4.30pm, the last point at which it can get finished before light conditions deteriorate, it will be postponed until Sunday morning.

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner told AUTOSPORT ahead of qualifying that he felt the best solution would be to run qualifying on Sunday morning.

"I think the fairest thing would be to do that," he said. "I think that happened in 2004, and that would be the most sensible thing.

"We have plenty of time in the morning. The race is not until 3pm, and it would be more sensible to run the qualifying then than risk driver safety this afternoon."

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