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Charlie Whiting has admitted qualifying will not take place in Saturday afternoon's heavy rain.
With the session already officially delayed for 90 minutes beyond the scheduled 14:00 start-time, the FIA will wait until 16:30 - when the light will be fading - before announcing the postponement of qualifying to 10am on Sunday.
But as bored drivers and team personnel pushed makeshift boats down the pitlane stream, the BBC ceased its live broadcast and the Virgin drivers played poker in the garage, race director Whiting all but admitted the Sunday postponement is now a certainty.
"With so much rain, we cannot start qualifying - not in these conditions," Whiting told France's Auto Hebdo website.
He said he will recommend to the stewards that qualifying be held on Sunday morning.
"That's feasible because there is no minimum time between qualifying and the race," the Briton confirmed.
After an 80 minute delay, race control finally confirmed that qualifying will not take place on Saturday.
Whiting announced that the session will now take place on Sunday morning at 10am, with the stewards to confirm that decision shortly.
It is believed the decision was taken at 15:20 (local Japanese time) - instead of 16:30 as earlier expected - because the natural light has already begun to fade.
Upon learning of the decision, Sebastian Vettel came out of the Red Bull garage to applaud the massed grandstands, with the passionate Japanese fans having patiently waited for cars that ultimately did not run.
"I hope they all turn up tomorrow for a busy day," said Heikki Kovalainen.
With the session already officially delayed for 90 minutes beyond the scheduled 14:00 start-time, the FIA will wait until 16:30 - when the light will be fading - before announcing the postponement of qualifying to 10am on Sunday.
But as bored drivers and team personnel pushed makeshift boats down the pitlane stream, the BBC ceased its live broadcast and the Virgin drivers played poker in the garage, race director Whiting all but admitted the Sunday postponement is now a certainty.
"With so much rain, we cannot start qualifying - not in these conditions," Whiting told France's Auto Hebdo website.
He said he will recommend to the stewards that qualifying be held on Sunday morning.
"That's feasible because there is no minimum time between qualifying and the race," the Briton confirmed.
After an 80 minute delay, race control finally confirmed that qualifying will not take place on Saturday.
Whiting announced that the session will now take place on Sunday morning at 10am, with the stewards to confirm that decision shortly.
It is believed the decision was taken at 15:20 (local Japanese time) - instead of 16:30 as earlier expected - because the natural light has already begun to fade.
Upon learning of the decision, Sebastian Vettel came out of the Red Bull garage to applaud the massed grandstands, with the passionate Japanese fans having patiently waited for cars that ultimately did not run.
"I hope they all turn up tomorrow for a busy day," said Heikki Kovalainen.