Williams' Vowles urges FIA to extinguish Suzuka’s grass fire woes

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Suzuka Circuit has turned into a literal hotbed of drama ahead of Saturday’s qualifying, and Williams team principal James Vowles has had enough.

After this morning’s final practice session was marred by two more grass fires that triggered red flags, Vowles is demanding the FIA step up and snuff out the problem before Saturday’s crucial qualifying.

The fiery interruptions, which echoed similar delays from Friday’s FP2, have left teams scrambling and Vowles sounding the alarm on a situation that’s threatening to derail the weekend.

FP3 was barely underway when the first blaze flared up at Turn 12 just six minutes in, halting proceedings. Later, a second fire at 130R torched any hope of a smooth finish, cutting the session short.

These incidents follow two fires in FP2, despite overnight efforts by the FIA to douse the danger. For Williams and the rest of the paddock, the disruptions have been a costly blow, with drivers like Alex Albon and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz unable to complete their qualifying simulations.

Vowles: “It’s Hampered All of Us”

Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Vowles explained the toll these interruptions have taken.

“I think it’s hampered all of us really,” he said. “It’s just when you get into the flow, you need a couple of laps on the softs to get it right. And we just didn’t get that nor did anyone else for that matter.”

The FIA’s attempts to tame the grass – watering and trimming it after Friday’s incidents – proved futile, as Saturday’s fires made clear. With qualifying looming, Vowles fears the unpredictability could spark chaos.

“So definitely, we spoke to the FIA at the end of that one [FP3],” he added. “No one wants these, and it’s the same for everyone. That’s the best way I can put it.

“So it’s down to us to make sure that we don’t get caught out by it. You just could probably run on the earlier side [in qualifying]. That’s the only protection you’ve got.”

His suggestion? Teams might need to jump the gun in each qualifying segment to dodge potential stoppages.

Pushing for Stronger Measures

Vowles isn’t just pointing fingers – he’s pushing for solutions.

“They’ve tried wetting the turf, but I think they have to look at other measures before qualifying,” he insisted.
His call to action comes as the FIA scrambles to respond, issuing a statement promising to throw “all available time and resources” into dampening the grass ahead of the session.

But with Williams and other teams on edge, the pressure is on to deliver more than just a quick fix.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.