Another unpredictable weekend of weather is expected as the formula one circus leaps this week from Shanghai to Suzuka.
It was warm and overcast on Tuesday as some members of the travelling fraternity touched down at the Honda-owned facility, which is located on the western tip of Japan's Honshu island.
Local forecasters, however, predicted afternoon showers and - later this week - definite rain for Thursday and probably Friday.
Saturday's qualifying sessions also appear to be under the threat of wet weather, but for the race a day later, Bridgestone runners will be relieved to hear about the probable clearing of cloudy skies.
After struggling on a slippery track in China, Bridgestone is understood to have rushed an emergency specification of rain tyre from Tokyo to Suzuka.
However, to the Daily Telegraph newspaper, the Japanese company's technical manager admitted: ''What we can do for Suzuka, we don't know at the moment.''
Williams' Mark Webber said: ''The weather is very changeable in Japan at this time of year.''
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UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Unpredictable weather in Japan
Unpredictable weather in Japan
