With heavy rain falling overnight and continuing to batter the ℱSochi Autodrom throughout Saturday morn𝐆ing, the FIA has taken the decision to abandon any attempt to stage the final 60-minute F1 practice session.

A bulletin issued by the FIA shortly before FP3 was planned to start confirmed that a request had been received from the stewards to call off the session amid the poor weather condition💙s.

“Having received a request from the race director and the clerk of the course, in accordance with Article 15.3 a) of the🌠 Formula 1 Sporting Regulations, and Articles 11.9.3.m and 11.9.3.o of the FIA International Sporting Code, decide, in the interest of safety, to modify the official progr𒁃amme by cancelling free practice session three due to force majeure,” it read.

“For the purposes of the regulati🐻ons and associated time limits, free practice session three will be considered as having taken place🤡, except where otherwise advised by the race director.”

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F1’s priority is to stage qualifying at some point on Saturday afternoon. Qualifying is due to begin at༺ 3pm local time (1pm BST) and the current weather forecast sugges﷽ts the rain should ease before then.

Speaking on Sไaturday morning, FIA race director Michael Masi said that fading light will ultimately be the deciding factor in whether qualifying can go ahead as planned.

The session could be delayed in the hope of finding a potential break in the weather later on Saturday, but with sunset at 6.13pm local time, there is a na🙈rrow window to fit qualifying in.

If qualifying can not be held on Saturday, F1 has the option to move t♍he session to Sunday morning and reschedule its programme.

This last happened at the 2019 Japanese Grand Priಞx when advanced warning of a typhoon threat enabled F1 to switch qualifying to Sunday morning ahead of the 🌃race.

Last month, F1 was𓆏 forced to abandon the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps due to persistent heavy rain.