The Japanese Grand Prix will not start at the scheduled time, with safety being at the heart of concerns after a major incident.
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The start of the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix has been officially postponed by the FIA and Formula 1, a few minutes before the initial scheduled time on the legendary Suzuka circuit.
The cause: an impressive accident during a support race, which caused significant damage to the safety barriers at Turn 12. According to initial reports, a single-seater was even thrown over the protections, requiring immediate intervention from safety teams.
Faced with such a situation, the governing bodies took no risks, prioritizing a complete restoration before launching the main race.
A 10-minute delay officialized
Initially scheduled for 14h00 local time, the start has been delayed by ten minutes. The starting procedure will therefore begin at 14h10 (07h10 French time), with the launch of the formation lap at this new time.
In a statement, the FIA specified: “The start of the formation lap is delayed due to ongoing repairs to the barriers at Turn 12, following an incident in a support category.”
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This delay, although relatively short, is crucial to ensure that all safety conditions are met before the drivers take to the track.
Safety first at Suzuka
The Japanese circuit is renowned for its demanding and fast layout, where the slightest infrastructure failure can have serious consequences. The organizers have therefore mobilized technical teams to quickly repair the damaged barriers.
This type of intervention is common in motorsport when incidents occur ahead of a main race, but the priority always remains the same: ensuring maximum protection for the drivers.
Once the race is underway, all eyes will be on Kimi Antonelli, who took pole position. The young Italian will start alongside his teammate George Russell, giving Mercedes a 100 % silver front row.
Both men are aiming for another victory this season and could take advantage of this ideal position to widen the gap in the championship before the break imposed by the 2026 F1 calendar.
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