How the Japanese Grand Prix grid will look if qualifying canceled due to Typhoon Hagibis
The Japanese Grand Prix could be seriously disrupted by the looming Typhoon Hagibis this weekend, but how will the grid look if qualifying is canceled?
Typhoon Hagibis has already caused havoc to the ongoing Rugby World Cup in Japan, with the Japanese Grand Prix now also under threat.
Although the weather is due to be fine for the race to go ahead on Sunday, there is a chance that qualifying could be scrapped altogether.
Qualifying was originally due to start on Saturday at 15:00 local time (08:00 BST), but is now set for 10:00 (02:00 BST) before the race on Sunday.
However, if the conditions are not deemed safe before the race at 14:10 local time (06:10 BST) on Sunday, then the results from the second qualifying round will form the order of the grid.
Mercedes pair Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton will lead the pack if no further racing is done until the real thing later this weekend.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will start in third as Ferrari pair Charles Leclerc and Sebastian Vettel make up the top five.
Alexander Albon, Carlos Sainz, Sergio Perez, Pierre Gasly and Lando Norris are set to make up the top ten, with Hamilton set to go one step closer to his sixth world title.
Although the Brit cannot lift the overall trophy in Japan, he is on course for a third successive victory in Mexico next time out.
Japanese Grand Prix second practice session final standings:
1: Valtteri Bottas
2: Lewis Hamilton
3: Max Verstappen
4: Charles Leclerc
5: Sebastian Vettel
6: Alexander Albon
7: Carlos Sainz
8: Sergio Perez
9: Pierre Gasly
10: Lando Norris
11: Kimi Raikkonen
12: Daniil Kvyat
13: Romain Grosjean
14: Lance Stroll
15: Antonio Giovinazzi
16: Kevin Magnussen
17: Daniel Ricciardo
18: Nico Hulkenberg
19: Robert Kubica
20: George Russell