Officials Discuss Qualifying Cancellation Plans

A decision on the possible cancellation of Saturday practice and qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix will be decided by 6pm local time on Friday after a meeting between the FIA stewards and the Suzuka circuit officials.

Typhoon Ma-on is due to hit the region at 9am local time on Saturday morning and officials are likely to close the track because of concerns over possible winds of up to 200km/h.

The circuit officials will meet on Friday afternoon to decide on their plans for Saturday so that fans do not travel to the circuit unnecessarily and they will inform the FIA of their decision on whether spectators will be allowed in.

The FIA will then decide whether to allow running on Saturday or cancel the entire day amid concerns that facilities at the circuit could be damaged by the typhoon.

An FIA official confirmed that if the Saturday running is cancelled they would hope to run a qualifying session on Sunday morning before the race or set the grid in the finishing order of the last race if that were not possible.

The typhoon, which is yet to hit land, has intensified in strength to a super typhoon but it is understood that once it has passed through the weather will improve significantly.

Merchandising tents have already been dismantled in preparation for the storm and the continuation of the race meeting remains in doubt because of potential damage to the facilities and flooding of the track.