F1 cancels Saturday running at Suzuka due to super typhoon

Formula 1 has confirmed that no on-track action will take place at Suzuka on Saturday due to the approach of super typhoon Hagibis.

Hagibis is set to make landfall in Japan on Saturday, and has already forced the cancellation of two Rugby World Cup matches, with a number of travel links in the country also being affected.

F1, the FIA and the Japan Automobile Federation confirmed on Thursday that they would monitor the situation regarding the plans for Saturday, with the drivers giving their support to the officials to make the right decision.

On Friday morning prior to FP1, it was announced that Saturday's running had been cancelled completely. Qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix will now take place on Sunday morning.

"As a result of the predicted impact of Typhoon Hagibis on the FORMULA 1 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 statement reads.

"The FIA and Formula 1 support this decision in the interest of safety for the spectators, competitors and everyone at the Suzuka Circuit,"

The revised schedule will see qualifying finish just three hours before the start of the race, which will begin at 1410 local time (0610 BST) on Sunday.

This will be the third time that a typhoon has forced the postponement of qualifying at Suzuka, with wet weather prompting a similar decision to be made in both 2004 and 2010.

Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix 2019 - Official Statement on #Typhoon #Hagibis #F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/Xi9fcm0agl

— F1 Media (@F1Media) October 11, 2019