Formula One bosses have been left sweating over qualifying for the Russian Grand Prix after a final practise session was scrapped on Saturday morning due to bad weather.
Heavy rain in Sochi meant that the track would not be safe to race on, with qualifying set to take place at 3pm later today – and chiefs remaining hopeful.
However, should qualifying not be able to go ahead today, the race would still take place on Sunday if the weather allows with special measures coming into play.
Qualifying could take place in the morning before the action gets underway, with Lewis Hamilton sitting just five points adrift of championship rival Max Verstappen.
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FIA race director Michael Masi said: “What we’ve seen is that we will have this level of rain until about 1.30-2pm local time, and then it will decrease in the afternoon.
“The priority from today’s perspective is obviously qualifying.
“But if qualifying is not able to happen today then we will hold it on Sunday.”
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(Image: Getty Images)
Despite having the overall lead, Verstappen will have mixed emotions about the Russian GP having been made to start at the back of the grid in a penalty for taking a fourth engine.
The Red Bull star said: “We just try to make the best possible racecar for this weekend of course, once we decided to take that engine.
“So I hope it’s going to work out but tomorrow, let’s first wait and see how the weather will be.”