F1 drivers believe qualifying for this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix "cannot take place on Saturday if the Suzuka circuit is hit by Typhoon Hagibis." FIA and F1, however, "will not make a decision on any postponement until Friday." Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton and others "have backed their position" after Saturday’s Rugby World Cup matches were canceled. The super typhoon is expected to be "approximately 200km wide when it reaches Japan and is predicted to hit Suzuka with winds of up to 160mph and bring exceptionally heavy rain." Five years ago at the Japan F1 GP, the accident which "ultimately led to Jules Bianchi’s death occurred during very wet conditions inflicted by Typhoon Phanfone" (London GUARDIAN, 10/10).
The qualifying session scheduled for Saturday afternoon "is looking increasingly like it could be moved to Sunday morning." Bad weather is "not uncommon" at the Japanese GP. In '04 and '10, qualifying "was pushed back to the Sunday because of a typhoon." It is forecast that "the worst of the conditions will have passed by Sunday," so the GP "should not be affected" (LONDON TIMES, 10/10).
