Sunday qualifying at Suzuka, not a first

The Japanese Grand Prix and the weather are an eventful story. The latest example was given this Friday, October 11, with the postponement of qualifying to Sunday morning at Suzuka. However, if this measure is extremely rare in Formula 1, history teaches us that the Land of the Rising Sun is accustomed to doing so.

Qualifying pushed back to Sunday? We've been here before…#JapaneseGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/VMKkNg8g0q

- Formula 1 (@ F1) October 11, 2019

2004

At the time placed in the final rush of the season (penultimate round), the event had few championship stakes. Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) was titled more than a month ago and the Team can no longer be caught up with Manufacturers. 

However, Japanese fans are excited to see the arrival of a new driver within the team Toyota : Jarno Trulli. The Italian, dismissed without further ado by the whimsical Flavio Briatore the previous summer, bounced back alongside Olivier Panis. The Frenchman is also experiencing his last weekend on the Japanese rollercoaster as a regular driver. 

Friday practice is already taking place on a wet track. The climate forecasts are worrying, with the arrival of Typhoon Ma-on and winds forecast up to 180 km/h. The Race Direction takes the decision to postpone qualifying to Sunday morning, 3h30 before the start of the event. This is a first in F54’s 1-year history. 

Once the storm passes, good habits resume. Michael Schumacher takes his eighth pole of the year, with more than half a second ahead of his little brother Ralf Schumacher (Williams-BMW). 

Contested in mixed conditions while the cars only had set-ups for wet conditions, the rankings for this session contained some surprises. Thus, Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari) went astray in his only flying lap (15th) and the trio Alonso-Räikkönen-Montoya is thrown out of the top 10. Finally, Mark Webber's modest Jaguar climbs to third place. 

2010

Ah, this is a season like no other... Before starting the 16th meeting of the 2010 campaign, five drivers can still claim the title. Yes, you read correctly ! 

Mark Webber (Red Bull) barely holds the reins, ahead of his teammate and best enemy Sebastian Vettel, while Fernando Alonso (Renault) returns to favor after a success in Singapore (without team instructions). Finally, the McLaren de Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button are in ambush.

In short, everything is in place for a thrilling qualification on Saturday at Suzuka. The rain would decide otherwise. Unlike 2004, the session opened despite the halberds. In fact, the stands are full of cold and courageous supporters, who want their perseverance to be rewarded. 

The International Automobile Federation (FIA), instead of immediately canceling the day, keeps the suspense lingering with reconnaissance laps of the Mercedes SLS. The Safety Car loses grip several times while the drivers are helmeted in the garages.

Ultimately, common sense prevails, albeit belatedly. Qualifying is postponed until Sunday morning. Adrian Newey's cars will monopolize the first row, with the one nicknamed "Baby Schumi" on pole: Sebastian Vettel, aged 23.

Lewis Hamilton set the third time, however, it is the black and yellow Renault of Robert Kubica which occupies this position. The Pole benefits from a five-place penalty awarded to the Briton for changing gearboxes following an accident in free practice.

Robert Kubica's performance would not be matched by a Renault until nine years later, thanks to the time of Daniel Ricciardo in Montreal in June 2019! The video below is an opportunity to appreciate the activation of the F-Duct, a device allowing a flow of air in the hull to the rear wing. 

The goal was to reduce drag and gain a few km/h in top speed. For this, it was obligatory with the hand an opening located in the cockpit. Suddenly, we had to literally pilot with one hand, and negotiate the famous 130R in this unorthodox position! The F-Duct was banned by the FIA ​​the following winter.