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Rain Expected to Resolve Suzuka Grass Fire Concerns During Japanese Grand Prix Weekend
By Hugo Harvey
Formula 1 officials are pinning their hopes on overnight rain to resolve a recurring safety issue at the Japanese Grand Prix — unexpected grass fires along the Suzuka circuit. The fires, which have flared up throughout the race weekend, have led to a total of five red-flag stoppages, including a disruption during Saturday’s qualifying session.
The blazes, ignited by sparks from the titanium skid plates beneath F1 cars, have caused delays and raised safety concerns. Most of the incidents have occurred in dry patches of grass lining high-speed sections of the track, particularly at corners where the cars’ downforce causes them to bottom out, creating more friction and sparks.
In a somewhat unusual scene, race marshals resorted to using buckets and even inverted traffic cones filled with water in an attempt to dampen these vulnerable areas ahead of qualifying. A Reuters photo captured one marshal hurling a bucket of water onto the grass near the circuit, reflecting the seriousness of the situation and the improvisational efforts employed to prevent further flare-ups.
Officials from the FIA, Formula 1’s governing body, have acknowledged the issue and confirmed that if the expected rainfall does not materialize overnight, they are prepared to once again manually soak the driest areas of grass around the 3.6-mile track. These efforts would focus on key zones identified as high-risk, especially the fast corners where previous fires have broken out.
The idea of carrying out a controlled burn — a method sometimes used to preemptively eliminate flammable vegetation — was briefly considered. However, this approach was dismissed due to its associated risks. FIA representatives cited concerns about the difficulty of managing such burns, potential environmental damage, and the unsightly visual impact it would have on the circuit surroundings.
Despite relatively mild temperatures ranging between 13 to 15 degrees Celsius, the dry grass conditions are being attributed to Japan’s seasonal patterns, with the country’s rainy season not due until later in the summer. Consequently, the lack of recent rainfall has left the grassy edges of the Suzuka circuit parched and highly flammable.
Following two fire incidents that disrupted second practice on Friday, marshals began targeted watering in specific areas identified as the most arid and fire-prone. This practice continued on Saturday ahead of final practice and qualifying. However, despite these preventative efforts, the fifth fire erupted during qualifying at the exit of the high-speed 130R corner — one of the fastest stretches of the circuit where cars hit speeds around 200mph.
That incident triggered a red flag in Q2, temporarily halting the session as fire crews acted swiftly to extinguish the flames and ensure the area was safe for racing to continue.
Championship leader Max Verstappen, who secured pole position for Sunday’s race, commented on the situation, saying, “It will rain overnight and that will help. The grass is very dry and I guess with the sparks it can ignite.”
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McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who qualified third, echoed Verstappen’s optimism, stating, “With the rain overnight, I don’t think it will be as much of a problem.”
With unpredictable weather on the horizon and safety at the forefront, F1 officials are on standby for further action if nature doesn’t provide a solution before lights out on race day.
