Grass fires again interrupt Japanese GP practice
Japanese Grand PrixVenue: Suzuka Dates: 4-6 April Race start: 06:00 BST on SundayCoverage: 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
Trackside fires continued to be a concern at the Japanese Grand Prix as Lando Norris led Oscar Piastri to a McLaren one-two in final practice.The session was stopped twice because grass beside the Suzuka track caught alight, once early in the session and once seven minutes before the scheduled end.The issue remains a concern for the race as the latest fires happened despite mitigation measures that had been put in place after Friday's practice session was also red-flagged twice for the same reason.The second fire prevented some drivers from finishing their soft tyre qualifying simulation runs.The fires are believed to have been caused by a combination of sparks from the cars and dry grass - Japan's wet season is in the summer.After Friday's practice sessions, loose, dried grass was removed from affected areas and Formula's 1 governing body, the FIA, said that the grass would be dampened and response teams stationed around the track.Qualifying takes place from 07:00 BST on Saturday with the race at 06:00 on Sunday, when rain is forecast earlier in the day.
Norris, who twice ran wide at the tricky Degner Two corner, headed Piastri by just 0.026 seconds as the fight between the two McLaren drivers remained close and intense.Mercedes driver George Russell was third, 0.112secs off the pace, and ahead of Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton.Leclerc was one of the drivers whose final run was curtailed - he had been impeded by Carlos Sainz's Williams in the Esses on his first flying lap and the fire brought the session to an end before he could go again.Verstappen was continuing to complain about his car's lack of front grip, at one stage saying it was "undriveable".The four-time champion was 0.288secs and four places ahead of new team-mate Yuki Tsunoda in ninth place.Albon was seventh from Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Racing Bull of Isack Hadjar completed the top 10.Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso down in 15th was another driver not to get in a lap on the soft tyre.
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