Qualifying could be delayed to Sunday

Qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix could be delayed to Sunday morning if the session cannot be completed this afternoon, the FIA said

Low clouds hanging over the Fuji circuit has grounded the mandatory medical helicopter, which forced Saturday practice session to be abandoned.

And with the weather not having cleared much since the morning, there is a chance that this afternoon's qualifying session will also be affected.

The stewards have laid out procedures for a session to take place tomorrow morning, however, when the weather is expected to be better.

A statement issued at Fuji said that the race stewards intend to start qualifying at 2:00 pm but would be delayed "if necessary and reviewed at appropriate intervals."

It added: "If qualifying commences but has to cease because of weather conditions, the session will resume when conditions permit. This will be repeated as often as necessary in order to complete the session."

If qualifying is not completed today then it will be finished tomorrow, and if qualifying does not take place at all today it will be run tomorrow morning.

The stewards have said that if it is necessary there will be a 15-minute timed practice session at 9:30 am, with qualifying at 10:00 am.