FIA takes steps to prevent fires from returning to Suzuka

This is one of the striking images of this first day at Suzuka. During Free Practice 2, the grass at the edge of the track started to catch fire... twice, forcing race control to deploy the red flag to allow the marshals to intervene and extinguish the fires. A rare scene but not unprecedented, since this mishap also occurred last year in Shanghai, for the return of the Chinese Grand Prix to the calendar. Formula 1.

The reason for these fires? Very dry grass due to recent weather conditions. Indeed, after the snow in February, the Suzuka circuit has experienced sunny and dry weather in recent weeks. This dry grass, yellowed by the sun, is therefore prone to catching fire if sparks touch it... which, with current Formula 1 cars, happens regularly.

Red flag deployed 🔴

A small grass fire beside the circuit is currently being extinguished#F1 #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/OomAusRYH5

- Formula 1 (@ F1) April 4, 2025

To prevent this incident from recurring this weekend, the FIA ​​has taken several preventative measures. A spokesperson for the governing body explained that the trackside grass will be cut as short as possible overnight. Stewards will also remove the driest areas, and the grass will be watered on Saturday before Free Practice 3 and qualifying. The FIA ​​spokesperson also indicated that specialized response teams will be on standby in the event of a fire.

The risk is expected to be lower on Sunday, as rain is forecast for the morning of the Grand Prix. While they may be surprising in their spontaneity, these fires do not appear to be linked to the recent track resurfacing at Suzuka, particularly in the first sector.

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