The rain punishes Interlagos and forces training to be postponed until Sunday, the same day as the match, something that hasn’t happened since 2019
Something unusual inside Formula 1, THE International Automobile Federation (FIA) I had to change the qualifying training time and the race Sao Paulo Grand Prix due to the rain. The storm that hit the capital Sao Paulo postponed the session that will define the Saturday afternoon grid until 7.30am on Sunday. And the test, previously scheduled for 2pm, has been brought forward to 12.30pm on Sunday.
The qualifying session, originally scheduled for 3pm this Saturday, it was rescheduled seven times until it was finally retooled for Sunday morning. It will be the first time since 2019 that the starting grid for a Formula 1 race will be defined on the same day as the race. Five years ago the FIA had to reschedule the ranking Japanese GP because the Asian country was devastated by the typhoon at that time Hagibis.
“The conditions are not safe to drive, unfortunately this is the situation,” Formula 1 boss Stefano Domenicali said on Saturday. Lewis Hamiltonof Mercedes, joked about the situation as he approached Domenicali. “I want to drive, give us better tyres,” said the seven-time world champion. He would drive the historic McLaren MP4/5B with which Ayrton Senna was twice world champion in 1990, in homage to the Brazilian idol. But the tribute was also postponed until Sunday.
The FIA reported that the decision was taken due to “the lack of visibility given the level of rain we have had in the last few hours”. “There is a lot of standing water in some parts of the circuit, making conditions dangerous,” the organization said in a statement.
According to the weather forecast, it will also rain in the Interlagos circuit area on Sunday, which could prevent the qualifying tests from taking place. According to FIA regulations, article 39.4, letter b, if the drivers cannot take to the track for the session, the starting grid for Sunday’s race will be determined by the result of the only free practices held this weekend.
On Friday the activity that opened the GP ended with Lando Norris, of McLaren, in the lead and Max Verstappen, of Red Bull, in 15th position. If a new storm were to cancel the qualifying tests, the Briton, second in the world championship, will start from pole, while the Dutch three-time world champion will arrive from last place (20th), because he has to serve a fifth place penalty for the replacement of engine components.
Triumph in the race gives the winner 25 points. Anyone who finishes outside the top ten receives no points. Verstappen remains at the top of the World Championship, with 367 points, while Norris appears with 323, and Charles Leclerc, 297.
After the Sao Paulo GP, there will be three more races left at the end of the season: Las Vegas (United States), Lusail (Qatar) and Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). Considering the race in Brazil, the points up for grabs are 112.
Check the Sao Paulo GP starting grid below if qualifying training is not possible:
- Lando Norris (ING/McLaren), 1min10s610
- George Russell (ING/Mercedes), 1min10s791
- Oliver Bearman (ING/Haas), 1min10s805
- Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren), 1min10s950
- Alexander Albon (TAI/Williams), 1min10s955
- Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari), 1’11’038
- Carlos Sainz Jr. (ESP/Ferrari), 1’11’100
- Nico Hülkenberg (ALE/Haas), 1min11s124
- Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin), 1’11’215
- Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine), 1min11s216
- Liam Lawson (NZL/RB), 1min11.301
- Yuki Tsunoda (JAP/RB), 1min11s483
- Franco Colapinto (ARG/Williams), 1min11s619
- Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Kick Sauber), 1min11s651
- Lewis Hamilton (ING/Mercedes), 1min11s754
- Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin), 1min11s783
- Esteban Ocon (FRA/Alpine), 1min11s827
- Sergio Pérez (MEX/Red Bull), 1’11’845
- Guanyu Zhou (CHN/Kick Sauber), 1min11s883
- Max Verstappen (HOL/Red Bull), 1min11s712* (punished by losing 5 positions)
Source: Terra
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