Japanese formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka

[SteveB]

Japanese GP Qualifying

Max Verstappen on pole but will face stewards for impeding Lando Norris on his out lap. Only Lando Norris's quick reactions avoided a collision.

1) Max Verstappen, [Red Bull]
2) Charles Leclerc, [Ferrari]
3) Carlos Sainz, [Ferrari]
4) Sergio Perez, [Red Bull]
5) Esteban Ocon, [Alpine]
6) Lewis Hamilton, [Mercedes]
7) Fernando Alonso, [Alpine]
8) George Russell, [Mercedes]
9) Sebastian Vettel, [Aston Martin]
10) Lando Norris, [McLaren]

11) Daniel Ricciardo, [McLaren]
12) Valtteri Bottas, [Alfa Romeo]
13) Yuki Tsunoda, [AlphaTauri]
14) Zhou Gunayu, [Alfa Romeo]
15) Mick Schumacher, [Haas]

16. Alex Albon, [Williams]
17. Pierre Gasly, [AlphaTauri]
18. Kevin Magnussen [Haas]
19. Lance Stroll, [Aston Martin]
20. Nicholas Laitifi, [Williams]

Race Sunday 9th at 06:00 Irish Time.

[SteveB]

Max Verstappen keeps pole after receiving a reprimand from the stewards.
Fair enough decision, I thought, but he could easily have got a five-place penalty.

[SteveB]

Very early start tomorrow. So does max just need to get 8 more points than le clerc and he will be champion, is that it?

Basically yes.
He needs six more points than Sergio Perez, but that is academic because he is almost certain to get that if he gets eight more than Charles Lecerc.

Certainly not easy, unless Charles Lecerc has a bad race. If Charles Lecerc comes second, he will need to win with the extra point for fastest lap.

[SteveB]

Wet race. Steady rain that is expected to get worse.
Good defence from Max Verstappen as Charles Leclerc mounts a challenge from the start.
Carlos Sainz in the wall.

[SteveB]

Alex Albon is out too.
Lot of spray.

Red flag. Race suspended. Whether to clear the track or the conditions are too bad remains to be seen. Forecast is that it will get worse.

[SteveB]

Honda is the majority share holder for this track. They like the race to be run at this time of year. Unfortunately, this is wettest time of year.

[SteveB]

Need to get cars out on track behind safety car to clear the track of standing water. Likely to be a rolling start behind the safety car. Visibility in the spray as much of a problem as grip.
Could be an eventful race.

[SteveB]

Racing time cannot be more than 2hours + 1lap. Race clock has stopped after 5mins. That leaves 1hour 55mins of race time (+1lap) left.
Time after the race started cannot be more than 3hours. This time cannot be suspended.
In any case it will be dark in three hours. No facilities here for a night race.
Cannot be suspended indefinitely.

[SteveB]

Could it be cancelled altogether if the rain continues?

Possible. But they will obviously not want to do this. However, nowadays, with the emphasis on safety, it is a possibility.

[SteveB]

Race is to start in fifteen minutes behind Safety Car. Interesting to see if there are more incidents.

If they run less than 75% of the scheduled laps, it will be half points. That would make it difficult for Max Verstappen to clinch the championship.
The organisers will want to run as close to a full race as possible.
Two laps without a safety car is considered a race, obviously giving half points.