Whiting wants to begin qualifying at 2pm

Charlie Whiting will be poised to begin qualifying as scheduled at 2pm local.

But under the pouring Suzuka skies and with rivers of water running down the sloped pitlane, British television BBC reports that if the FIA race director believes the conditions are not safe at 2pm, he will delay the start of the session for 15 minutes.

These 15 minute delays could then continue for up to 2 hours - when the Japanese sun will be too low in the sky for the session to conclude in sufficient light.

The broadcaster also reported that the stewards’ driver advisor this weekend, Alex Wurz, thinks the session should be called off altogether, with 10am on Sunday already pencilled in by the FIA as a potential delayed timeslot.

"We are not sure of the merits of running in these conditions," said Mercedes team boss Ross Brawn. "It will be too dangerous.

"I will be disappointed if we start qualifying. We could have the grid decided by championship order, that’s happened before," he added.