How F1 is preparing for Typhoon Hagibis at Suzuka

The Formula 1 paddock will fall empty on Saturday at Suzuka as Japan braces itself for the arrival of Typhoon Hagibis.

The Japanese Grand Prix is traditionally held in typhoon season in the Pacific, meaning wet weather and high winds are not uncommon. But rarely do conditions get so bad that a whole day of running needs to be cancelled.

Hagibis – classified as a ‘super typhoon’, equivalent to a Category 5 hurricane – will make landfall on Saturday in Japan. It is one of the most powerful storms of the year, having already hit speeds of 160 mph. It has forced the cancellation of two Rugby World Cup matches, as well as already causing disruption to flights and the Shinkansen bullet train network in anticipation of its impact.

F1 announced on Friday morning that it had cancelled all activities at Suzuka for Saturday, rescheduling qualifying to 10am on Sunday morning. Qualifying will therefore conclude three hours before the start of the race, which is due to begin as scheduled at 1410 (0610 BST).

A number of other measures are taking place in anticipation of Hagibis arriving. As well as cancelling all on-track action, F1 officials confirmed that the circuit will be shut to teams, media and fans.

Some teams will be required to send essential personnel to the circuit (in order to keep certain generators running or for security), but this will be kept to an absolute minimum. Responsibility for this lies entirely with the teams.

In anticipation of the typhoon hitting, all track hoardings, camera and sound rigs around the circuit will be taken down on Friday evening before being replaced ahead of qualifying on Sunday. The broadcast centre will also be taken down and stored in garages, while the podium is also being taken apart (pictured top). Teams have also been given sandbags to help their preparations.

The situation will be closely monitored and assessed, with a meeting taking place early on Sunday to put a plan in action for the day, depending on how the weather moves.

Teams will be forced into similar measures, with Mercedes issuing the following update on its plans:

- The pit wall will be folded down and have a pallet net over the top of it.
- All panelling at the back of the garages will come down.
- All panelling at the front of the garages will come down.
- The garage shutter doors will be closed on both sides.
- We will lift most of the equipment inside the garage from the floor so that it won't be damaged from flooding.
- We will move the furniture from our hospitality unit to the offices behind our hospitality.
- We will take down the screens and Bose speaker system in our hospitality and store it in the offices as well.
- We are looking into preparations for power losses/power surges.

All being well, the paddock will be back in action on Sunday morning ahead of qualifying at 10am, followed by the Japanese Grand Prix at 2:10pm.