F1 officials hoping rain will solve grass fire issues

Japanese Grand Prix

Venue: Suzuka Dates: 4-6 April Race start: 06:00 BST on Sunday

Coverage: Live radio commentary of practice and qualifying on BBC 5 Sports Extra, race live on BBC Radio 5 Live from 05:30. Live text updates on the BBC Sport website and app

Formula 1 officials are hoping that predicted overnight rain will solve the problem of grass fires that have afflicted the Japanese Grand Prix weekend.

The grass alongside the track igniting in different places has so far caused five red-flag stoppages at Suzuka, including one in qualifying on Saturday.

Wet weather is expected from the early hours of Sunday morning, which should solve the problem before the race.

If the forecast is wrong, a spokesperson for governing body the FIA said, officials will water the grass around the track again in an attempt to prevent the problem recurring.

Carrying out a pre-emptive burn of the most at-risk areas around the 3.6-mile track has been discussed.

But this is not an option favoured by officials because of the risks if the burn is not kept under control, environmental concerns and the aesthetics of blackened areas of grass around the track.

Although the temperatures have been in the region of 13-15C so far at Suzuka, Japan's rainy season is in the summer and the grass is very dry.

After two fires disrupted second practice on Friday, key areas of grass were watered before final practice on Saturday.

These were the driest areas and those at fast corners, where there is the highest likelihood of sparks from the titanium skid plates under the cars, which are causing the fires.

The same areas of grass were watered again, with greater quantities of water, after two further fires disrupted final practice.

A fifth fire broke out in qualifying at the exit of the 200mph 130R corner, causing a red flag in the second session of qualifying.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who will start on pole for the race, said: "It will rain overnight and that will help. The grass is very dry and I guess with the sparks it can ignite."

McLaren's Oscar Piastri, who starts third, added: "With the rain overnight, I don't think it will be as much of a problem."