FIA takes drastic actions to prevent fires at Japanese GP

During the Japanese Grand Prix, which took place at the Suzuka Circuit, trackside grass fires caused significant interruptions in practice sessions. The incidents were prompted by sparks generated from the cars, especially under gusty winds, leading to fires near critical areas of the track such as the Degner One and Spoon Curve. To address this problem, the FIA announced a series of preemptive measures which included cutting grass as short as possible, removing dry patches, and dampening the ground before qualifying sessions. These decisions were made in light of the forecast predicting no rain until Sunday and were crucial to ensuring the safety of the drivers and the continuity of the event. Due to safety concerns, the grass fires triggered multiple red flags during the practice sessions, affecting many drivers' qualifying simulations. Drivers such as Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri, and George Russell were noted for their competitive performances despite the ongoing disruptions. The FIA expressed its commitment to monitor the situation closely, announcing that specific response teams would be stationed around the track. Qualifying for the race was scheduled for 7 am on Saturday, followed by the race on Sunday at 6 am.