Japanese Grand Prix start time: Will race be cancelled because of Typhoon Hagibis?
Japanese Grand Prix start time - Is the race still scheduled to go ahead or will it be cancelled because of Typhoon Hagibis?
Japanese Grand Prix: Valtteri Bottas says he's 'feeling positive'
Typhoon Hagibis has already cancelled qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix.
The tropical storm, the biggest of the year, is due to pass close to the Suzuka circuit.
A statement read: “As a result of the predicted impact of Typhoon Hagibis on the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix 2019, Mobilityland and the Japanese Automobile Federation (JAF) have decided to cancel all activities scheduled to take place on Saturday, 12 October.
“The FIA and Formula 1 support this decision in the interest of safety for the spectators, competitors and everyone at the Suzuka Circuit.”
Qualifying, as a result, has been moved to Sunday morning.
The session is scheduled to get underway at 2am BST, or 10am local time.
If qualifying cannot take place, grid positions will be determined by Friday’s practice results.
Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas topped the timesheets in FP2 just ahead of team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen was third ahead of Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari.
What time does the Japanese Grand Prix start?
If the Suzuka track gets the all-clear on Sunday morning, the race will commence at 6.10am (2.10pm local) as scheduled.
Sky Sports F1 will be showing live coverage of the action.
Hamilton, meanwhile, is relishing the challenge of qualifying and racing on the same day.
The Mercedes star said: "I'm definitely down for that. It's cool when it's a different format in some ways.
"It's a different mentality you enter into, and there are two different mindsets, two different rhythms.
"Normally you have time after qualifying to then calm down and chill and then ramp it up to the next day. But if you have to do it on the same day, it's a different challenge and I like that."