Lewis won’t scoot off to typhoon-hit Tokyo.. but forecasts Ferrari chaos

LEWIS HAMILTON’S plans to explore Tokyo on his unexpected day off were thrown into disarray after Typhoon Hagibis wreaked havoc on Japan’s transport system.

With the 140mph storm looming, F1 officials at Suzuka moved today’s qualifying session to the morning of tomorrow’s Japanese Grand Prix, when conditions are forecast to improve.

F1 announced their schedule reshuffle before yesterday’s first practice session and Hamilton, who is on the brink of clinching his sixth world title, planned to spend his time off in Tokyo, 250 miles to the north east of Suzuka. But he soon abandoned the idea when it became clear that the storm could be the strongest to hit the capital since 1958 and locals were warned to prepare for high waves and storm surges. The transport system is set to be on lockdown, with domestic planes grounded and train services cancelled.

There were fears last night that damage caused by the typhoon might prevent the race from being staged at all, with thousands of sandbags arriving at the track in a bid to prevent the 3.6-mile course from flooding.

There is, however, hope that the storm will pass by tomorrow, but organisers have already ruled out rescheduling the race for Monday.

After yesterday’s two practice sessions, which were run in overcast but dry conditions, teams and organisers worked to prepare for the storm.

If the track remains too dangerous for the cars to run in qualifying early tomorrow morning, yesterday’s final running will determine the grid, with Valtteri Bottas on pole ahead of Mercedes team-mate Hamilton.

And another storm is brewing between the two Ferrari drivers after Sebastian Vettel defied three team orders in Russia to allow Charles Leclerc by.

Hamilton warned the Italian team that the partnership is destined to fail. He said: “It is an interesting dynamic because Seb was No.1, and now he clearly isn’t.

“They are trying to ramp Charles up. Is that good for a team? I don’t think so, but that is the philosophy they have had forever.

“Over time we will see whether it works. It hasn’t worked for a long while over there, and it doesn’t look as though it will work moving forwards. That’s not a bad thing for us.”