The Japanese Grand Prix's entire Saturday track programme, including qualifying, has been cancelled as Typhoon Hagibis bears down on the Suzuka circuit.
Qualifying will be rescheduled to 10am (5am UAE time) Sunday, with the race taking place at 2.10pm as originally planned, providing the weather improves.
The Suzuka circuit will be closed, with no public or media allowed in for safety reasons as Hagibis, packing heavy rain and winds in excess of 200 kilometres per hour is expected to make landfall on Saturday.
"As a result of the predicted impact of Typhoon Hagibis on the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix, Mobilityland and the Japanese Automobile Federation have decided to cancel all activities scheduled to take place on Saturday," said a statement by the motorsport's governing body FIA.
"The FIA and Formula One support this decision in the interest of safety for the spectators, competitors and everyone at the Suzuka Circuit.".
The decision means the teams and drivers will just have Friday's two practice sessions in which to prepare for Sunday morning's qualifying session because Saturday's third session will not be rescheduled.
If qualifying is not possible on Sunday morning because of continuing bad weather, then the grid will be decided based on Friday's second free practice times, the FIA later confirmed in a further statement.
"Should this eventuality come to pass, the stewards will exercise their authority ... and direct that the grid for the Japanese Grand Prix will be established based on the second practice session classification, with any penalties applied as necessary," said the FIA statement.
Formula One qualifying in Japan was also moved to Sunday in 2004 and in 2010 due to poor weather.
The typhoon has already claimed casualties at the Rugby World Cup in Japan, with Saturday's England-France clash in Yokohama and the New Zealand-Italy match in Toyota City cancelled.
The volatile nature of Hagibis – with Japan's weather bureau warning of "brutal winds and violent seas" as well as record-breaking rain – means even Sunday's race could be under threat, though the current forecast is for clearer weather.
A postponement of the grand prix to Monday is impossible, the FIA said.
The latest forecast predicts Hagibis to make landfall near Tokyo on Saturday with the Suzuka circuit, which lies near the Honshu coast about 300km southwest of the capital, being battered on the fringes.
The safety-first stance of organisers comes after the tail-end of a typhoon led to tragedy at the 2014 race at Suzuka.
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This Oct. 10, 2019, satellite photo taken by NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite shows typhoon Hagibis approaching Japan. NASA Worldview, Earth Observing System Data and Information System. AP -
Workers dismantle a structure in preparation for Typhoon Hagibis in Toyota. EPA -
A man checks ropes on a sailing boat in preparation for Typhoon Hagibis at a harbor in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture. Bloomberg -
A man riding his bike is seen through a hotel window taped in preparation for Typhoon Hagibis in Kamakura, west of Tokyo. AP -
Empty shelves at a supermarket as people rushed to stock up in preparation for Typhoon Hagibis in Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture. Kyodo via Reuters -
Store clerks assist a customer who is shopping for tarpaulin and other water proof materials in preparation for Typhoon Hagibis at a Royal Homecenter Co. store in Fujisawa. Bloomberg -
Sandbags are moved into the pitlane due to the approach of Typhoon Hagibis. Reuters -
A railway staff member tapes a poster that reads "Typhoon is approaching" to a wall at a station in Kakegawa. Reuters -
A man places wood boards to protect glasses from Typhoon Hagibis at a shop in Kumano, Mie Prefecture. AP Photo -
A man watches a public TV of weather forecast in Tokyo. AP -
A sign outside of the Yokohama Stadium informs of the cancellation of the England v France game due to typhoon forecast. Getty -
Men look at fishing boats as surging waves hit against the breakwater in town of Kiho, Mie Prefecture. AP -
Fishing boats are anchored at a port in town of Kiho. AP -
A Kiho town official closes a door of a coastal levee. AP
French driver Jules Bianchi crashed after losing control in rain and poor visibility and died the following year from his injuries having never recovered from a coma.
Leading drivers backed changing the weekend timetable. "I don't think anybody wants to put anybody's life in danger," said Ferrari's four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel on Thursday.
"The decision is not for us, necessarily, because for us it's nice and easy, cosy, in the garage. But for the people out there around the track, it is not nice to be sitting there with rain going sideways."
The blank Saturday will be a huge disappointment to thousands of fanatical supporters at one of the best-attended races on the circuit.
