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The Japanese Grand Prix – which could decide the 2022 Formula 1 world title – has been red-flagged after three laps due to wet conditions.
Though rain increased during the build-up to the race, it still began with a standing start.
But the safety car was soon brought out as Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz aquaplaned into the barriers on the way out of the hairpin.
LAP 1/53
Sainz into the barriers!
The Spaniard has spun off and is out of the race ❌#JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/uAOJNeWIu4
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2022
Sebastian Vettel (after first-corner contact with Fernando Alonso) and Zhou Guanyu also spun on lap one, while Pierre Gasly collected an advertising hoarding seemingly dislodged by Sainz’s accident and had to pit for repairs.
Gasly then appeared to encounter a recovery vehicle on the racing line under safety car conditions on the lap after his pitstop, prompting an outraged radio message. The Race has contacted the FIA to request a comment on the incident.
Alex Albon also retired, but his Williams appeared to suffer a technical problem.
With rain getting heavier, the red flag then came out during lap three.
Just under half an hour later, notice was given that the race would restart behind the safety car after 15 minutes (14:50 local time, 06:50 UK).
But this was then called off a minute before it was due to happen. Rain had eased slightly, but conditions in the paddock remained very poor.
After a further hour and a quarter, during which the safety and medical cars undertook exploratory laps, it was announced that the race would restart at 16:15 local time (08:15 UK).
The official three-hour clock began with the race start, so 48 minutes of potential racing time will remain when this latest restart bid takes place.
That will not be enough to get the full planned distance in.
The likelihood now is that the race could run to between 25 and 50% distance, which would allow a reasonable number of points to be awarded.
Once more than two laps under racing conditions have been completed, points can be awarded to the top five. on a 6-4-3-2-1 basis.
If over 25% of the race distance is completed that would allow more points to be awarded – to the top nine finishers at 13-10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1.
The next level of points distribution – under which the top 10 score with 19 for the winner and 14 for second place – will be achieved if 50% distance is reached.
This is the first test of these new rules since last year’s farcical Belgian Grand Prix in which 50% points were awarded despite no racing laps being completed.
Polesitter Max Verstappen very briefly lost the lead to Charles Leclerc off the line at the original start but regained first place around the outside at the first corner. Verstappen needs to outscore Leclerc by eight points to seal the title today.
Sergio Perez, Esteban Ocon, Lewis Hamilton and Alonso completed the top six when the race was stopped.
