F1 pauses to honour Japan quake dead

Formula One will pause before Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix to observe a minute's silence for the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami, organisers said.

All 24 F1 drivers will gather on the starting grid prior to the Melbourne race for a minute's remembrance in honour of those who lost their lives in the disaster.

All the F1 cars at Melbourne's Albert Park street circuit this week have carried a message or a flag to commemorate the Japanese quake.

The traditional all-red of the Ferrari cars have been altered with a message in Japanese script and a rising sun flag on a new white panel underneath the nose cone.

Ferrari said it had modified its famous livery to show solidarity with the Japanese people.

Formula One's only Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi interrupted his preparation for the Melbourne race to return home earlier this month.

"I was very worried about my country and so I went to Japan after the Barcelona testing," Kobayashi said.

"We need to stay together and we need help from all over the world.

"I am worried the whole country could disappear, it is just too awful."

Kobayashi's Sauber car, and that of his teammate Sergio Perez, will carry a message in Japanese which translates as: "May our prayers reach the people in Japan."

The death toll from a massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan's northeast coast on March 11 has topped 10,000 with fears of a much higher toll from the disaster with more than 17,000 people listed as missing.

u00a0