Torrential rains at the Suzuka circuit in Suzuka, Japan has forced the postponement of qualifying for the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix until the morning of the race, weather permitting.
Inches of rain fell throughout the day and hadn’t let up by evening, when organizers announced that the session was cancelled, because even if the rain were to stop, there would no longer be enough light on the track.
Fans sat through the rain from early in the morning, hoping to see morning practice and qualifying in the afternoon. Despite their enthusiastic persistence, the fans were not rewarded: only two drivers, Jaime Alguersuari and Timo Glock, turned timed laps in practice. The rest of the filed stayed in the garages all day. The Epoch Times
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Constant rain resulted in streams of water running across the Suzuka track, and after a few inspection laps by the safety car, it was decided conditions were too dangerous to attempt qualifying.
“It was horrible today, the worst conditions I’ve experienced in Formula One,” McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton said. “I couldn’t get to full throttle, not even half throttle.”
With the track still likely to be damp when qualifying begins, teams will be using educated guesses on setting up their cars for the session, having entertained themselves most of Saturday making toy boats to send down the mini-rivers in pitlane rather then analyzing practice data.
“Everyone will be in the same situation,” Hamilton said. “We’ve got a good car but a lot of work to do. Generally, we don’t make too many changes for wet conditions.” Napa Valley Register
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