Qualifying-race double header set for Sunday as F1 scraps all track activity on Saturday due to Typhoon Hagibis
Saturday 12 October 2019 17:31, UK
Japanese GP qualifying has been postponed until Sunday because of the expected impact of Typhoon Hagibis, Formula 1 has confirmed.
The session will now take place at 2am UK time (10am local) on Sunday - while the race is unchanged with its start time of 6.10am.
Qualifying build-up will begin at 1.30am on Sky Sports F1, while our race show coverage starts at 4.30am.
There will be no track activity at all on Saturday, which also means Practice Three has been cancelled.
The threat of Typhoon Hagibis, which is likely to bring violent winds and sustained heavy rain, had already led to the cancellation of two Rugby World Cup matches in the country, and F1 made their own statement on Friday morning.
"As a result of the predicted impact of Typhoon Hagibis on the 2019 FIA Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix, Mobilityland and the Japanese Automobile Federation (JAF) have decided to cancel all activities scheduled to take place on Saturday, 12 October," the statement read.
"The FIA and Formula 1 support this decision in the interests of safety for the spectators, competitors, and everyone at the Suzuka Circuit."
The typhoon, predicted to be one of the most violent to hit the region in recent years, is expected to pass through the area swiftly, with the forecast currently dry for Sunday.
F1 stressed that the new timetable was still subject to change and they "will continue to monitor the meteorological situation and issue any updates as necessary".
If qualifying still isn't able to take place on Sunday morning, the grid for the race will be dictated by the results from Practice Two.
Qualifying has had to be moved to a Sunday twice before in Japan due to typhoons, in 2004 and 2010, while the 2014 race was also hit by a typhoon and an accident led to the death of driver Jules Bianchi.
The last time qualifying was moved to a Sunday in F1 was at the United States GP in 2015.
Sunday, October 13
1.30am: Japanese GP Qualifying build-up
2am: JAPANESE GP QUALIFYING
3.30am: Paddock Walkabout
4.10am: #AskCrofty: Damon Hill Special
4.30am: Japanese GP Pit Lane Live
5.30am: Japanese GP On The Grid (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
6.10am: THE JAPANESE GRAND PRIX LIVE! (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
8am: Japanese GP Paddock Live (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
9am: Japanese GP Notebook (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
9.30am: Japanese GP replay (simulcast on Sky Sports Main Event)
12pm: Japanese GP highlights
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