With the Suzuka circuit shuttered on Saturday because of the approaching typhoon, the Formula One Japanese Grand Prix was in a holding pattern with drivers forced to spend the day at their hotels.
Organizers canceled Saturday's qualifying session with Typhoon Hagibis set to hit Japan's main island on Saturday and Sunday. Plans are for the race to be run as scheduled on Sunday at 2.00p.m. local time, with qualifying earlier in the day.
Hagibis, which could dump amounts of rain not seen since a deadly typhoon in 1958, is expected to make landfall on the Pacific coast of central or eastern Japan on Saturday evening, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.
Signs were put up at the circuit on Friday telling fans that all activities for Saturday had been canceled.
"We got an unexpected day off on Saturday but I'm sure the team will keep me busy," Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas said after leading Friday's final practice session. "But we'll be digging into the data and make the most out of it."
If qualifying goes ahead on Sunday it will mean a busy day for the drivers but it's not unprecedented.
Qualifying at Suzuka was moved to Sunday morning as a result of bad weather in 2004 and 2010.
If Sunday's qualifying is canceled, race stewards can use the classification from the second practice for Sunday's grid positions.
Mercedes confirmed they'd take down the usual paneling at the front and back of their garage and keeping equipment in the garage off the floor in case of flooding. Other teams will likely follow suit.
Some drivers expressed a desire to return to Tokyo on Saturday but with the typhoon expected to hit the Japanese capital on Saturday night that might be difficult.
Train and flight services between Tokyo and Nagoya have been suspended.
Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, third-fastest in Friday's final practice session, had a plan in place to spend the down time on Saturday.
"I will probably set up a FIFA tournament with some of the other drivers," Verstappen said. "We can't change the weather and it's out of our control so now we just have to see what happens on Sunday."
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CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — The defending champion Crusaders fanned their faint playoff hopes in Super Rugby Pacific Friday with a six-try, 39-0 win over the fourth-placed Melbourne Rebels.
The win was only the Crusaders’ second in nine games this season but temporarily bounced them off the bottom of the championship ladder and brightened their chances of reaching the quarterfinals with five matches remaining.
The Christchurch-based Crusaders fielded the biggest pack they could find and crushed the Rebels’ scrum, winning penalties and territory through the first 30 minutes. The Crusaders’ All Blacks props Fletcher Newell and George Bower dominated while the Rebels were forced to swap their entire front row in the 31st minute.
The Crusaders also freely poached the Rebels’ lineout ball, helped by the return from injury of All Blacks lock Scott Barrett.
But the handling errors that have plagued them all season continued. Though they had 88 percent of territory in the first half and controlled set pieces, they managed only two unconverted tries and led 10-0 at halftime.
There were four more tries in the second half.
“I’m certainly pleased with the way the boys turned up tonight,” Crusaders captain Barrett said. “There were some stern words this week and pretty of hurt over the last few weeks.
“But it was pleasing to see the boys roll up and put a big performance in like that.”
Backrower Christian Lio-Willie who often has made his appearances from the bench this season started and scored a try in each half for the Crusaders.
His first came in the 11th minute after a long buildup and from a flicked pass from winger Sevu Reece.
Backrower Cullen Grace scored in the 17th minute from a cross-kick by winger Heremaia Murray. But the Crusaders weren’t precise enough in their attack play to fully drive home their advantage before halftime.
Lio-Willie scored again in the 44th minute at the end of a movement which twice featured former Wales international Johnny McNicholl.
And prop Owen Franks touched down from a lineout drive in the 63rd minute for his first Super Rugby try since 2010.
The Crusaders then were able to chance their arm more and their confidence began to ebb back. Reece scored in the 77th minute, then McNicholl scored after a line break and angled run by Chay Fihaki.
The Crusaders still have a tough run-in to the playoffs but with Friday’s win and players returning from injury, the look a better prospect.
“I think the forward pack’s starting to get into their work,” Barrett said. “The scrum was good tonight.
“The boys are growing and we’re learning.”
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Christian Lio-Willie of the Crusaders celebrates his try during the Super Rugby against the Melbourne Rebels in Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, April 26, 2024. (John Davidson/Photosport/AAP Image via AP)
Ryan Louwrens of the Melbourne Rebels kicks the ball as Scott Barrett of the Crusaders attempts to charge it down during their Super Rugby match in Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, April 26, 2024. (John Davidson/Photosport/AAP Image/ via AP)
