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Motorsport

FIA taking action after smoking grass halts FP2 at F1's Japanese GP

Japanese Grand Prix FIA Japanese GP

The FIA is attempting to prevent a repeat of the grass fires that derailed the second practice outing at Formula 1’s Japanese Grand Prix.

Friday’s session was thrown into disarray by four red flags, two for offs by Jack Doohan and Fernando Alonso and another two for grass patches lining the Suzuka track catching fire.

The dry grass approaching Turn 8 first caught fire with 13 minutes left to run and was quickly extinguished by the Suzuka marshals.

In the dying seconds the grass was set ablaze again, this time much more dramatically and it curtailed the final push laps for many drivers.

The FIA is still investigating the cause of the incidents, but thus far the most plausible explanation is sparks coming off the cars' titanium skid blocks.

Motor racing's governing body has announced it is taking preventative measures to avoid a repeat on Saturday for final practice and qualifying, with certain patches being watered and the driest sections being removed altogether.

"While we continue to look into the fires that occurred during FP2, our focus before tomorrow will be on taking pre-emptive measures," an FIA statement read.

"The grass has been cut as short as possible, and loose, dried grass has been removed from affected areas. Prior to tomorrow's sessions, the grass will be dampened, and specific response teams will be stationed around the track."

A similar incident occurred at last year's Chinese Grand Prix, when the sole practice session in Shanghai was halted for two separate grass fires and the FIA took similar measures at the time.

Photos from Japanese GP - Practice

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

General view

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Ryo Hirakawa, Alpine reserve driver

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

General view

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Lily Zneimer, girlfriend of Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Jack Doohan, Alpine

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Alex Albon, Williams with his girlfriend, Lily Muni He

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

General view

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Jean Alesi in the Paddock

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Ryo Hirakawa walks in the paddock with his family

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Fans

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Car of Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Alex Albon, Williams

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Ryo Hirakawa, Alpine

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Members of team Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls, Laurent Mekies, Racing Bulls

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Alexander Albon, Williams

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Ryo Hirakawa, Alpine

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

George Russell, Mercedes

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Carlos Sainz, Williams

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing crash

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing crash

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Jack Doohan, Alpine crash

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Jack Doohan, Alpine crash

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Lando Norris, McLaren

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

2025 Japanese Grand Prix - Friday

Formula 1

83

In this article

Filip Cleeren

Formula 1

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