Rain could affect this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix

The Japanese Grand Prix weekend could feature a mixed weather forecast, with showers predicted to hit Suzuka.

Long-range weather forecasts for the fourth-round of the season had indicated heavy rain-showers for the race, which had been shifted forwards from its traditional October slot to April.

October is in the heart of typhoon season in Japan, with Saturday running at the 2019 race abandoned due to the threat of a typhoon, which also cancelled Rugby World Cup matches, but there is no threat of that this weekend, according to RacingNews365's weather partner WeerOnline.

On Friday, it will be around 21 degrees, with a chance of showers affecting Friday practice, with not much wind to blow away the weather fronts.

Moving onto Saturday and qualifying, it is predicted to overcast, with a maximum temperature of 17 degrees, with a chance of showers in the evening.

For race day, with lights out set for 2pm local time, a westerly wind is forecast to be accompanied by high humidity, but little threat of rain.

A westerly wind translates to a tail-wind through 130R and a cross-wind through the Esses of Sector 1.