F1 | Shanghai: the grass fire remains a mystery, but the FIA ​​takes precautions

The FIA ​​launched an in-depth investigation on Friday evening after two separate fires, which occurred on the same grass area inside Turn 7, interrupted sessions on the inaugural day of Formula 1's return to Shanghai.

First practice for the Chinese Grand Prix on Friday morning was red-flagged due to a fire that broke out on the grass, with the same area then catching fire again at the end of the first Sprint Qualifying session. This time there was no red flag, because the session had already ended, but there was a delay in the start of SQ2.

On Friday evening, the FIA ​​sent personnel to the area to conduct an analysis of the causes of the problem, but no definitive conclusion was reached. While on the one hand it seems certain that the sparks released by the F1 cars touched the grass, starting the fires, on the other it is not known what exactly is causing them.

Apparently, there is no trace of flammable materials or chemical substances on the grass, which may have been thrown over the weekend. It was speculated that the fires were fueled by methane gas seeping into the ground.

The Shanghai circuit is built on a swamp, which could be the cause of a build-up of gas. It is also believed that there are several pipes running underneath the structure, so it is possible that one of them has cracked. However, FIA inspections have found no clear evidence of the presence of gas, further adding to the mystery of what is happening.

While there are no answers, the FIA ​​has taken measures to ensure that this situation does not cause problems if it were to happen again. In a short statement, the FIA ​​said the grass was watered and additional precautions were taken with firefighting vehicles present.

“While we are still unsure why the grass fires occurred in yesterday's sessions, we are taking preventative measures ahead of today's on-track activities,” the statement read. “We will be watering the grass in the affected areas and will have an emergency fire response team at Turn 7.”