F1 suspended after FIRE at Japanese Grand Prix as FOUR red flags cause chaos during practice

THE JAPANESE Grand Prix was suspended as it was hit by four red flags including two FIRES.

Formula One was back after a week break to kick-off the first triple header of the season at the famous Suzuka Circuit.

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Jack Doohan kicked off a chaotic practice session with a big crash into the wall at Turn 1[/caption]

A fire stopped free practice two after a chaos hit session

A second trackside fire was seen as the session drew to a close

But Friday’s second practice session was hit by chaos after the red flag was waved FOUR times.

A massive crash from Alpine rookie Jack Doohan proved to be the spark of a crazy session.

Doohan had smashed into the wall at pace at the fast Turn 1, leaving his car mangled and the Australian out of the session but fortunately able to walk away.

Veteran Fernando Alonso was the second star to crash out as he dipped a wheel of his Aston Martin off the track before falling into the gravel and beaching his car to see another red flag deployed.

Track stewards then waved a red flag for the third time as a small trackside fire was seen lighting up with around 12 minutes of the session to go.

The sunny and windy conditions had left the grass trackside dry, and paired with the sparks flying from F1 cars as they raced past it ended up lighting a small fire.

Stewards were able to deal with the grass fire before it become too engulfed and were seen extinguishing it.

Racing soon got back underway with the fire well under control.

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However, with seconds of the session to go ANOTHER fire, this one bigger and actively burning the grass as it spread, was seen trackside.

Drivers returned to the pitlane without incident as it was dealt with by the stewards.

With the Friday’s weather conditions set to hold firm into Saturday qualifying it leaves an anxious wait to see if qualifying will also be hit by a stoppage.

The sunny conditions gives way to a colder front ahead of Sunday’s race, with there also being a chance of rain.

McLaren‘s Oscar Piastri topped the session ahead of team-mate and championship leader Lando Norris, with Racing Bulls Isack Hadjar coming in third.