Brazilian GP Qualifying delayed to Sunday as Torrential rain soaks Sao Paulo circuit

In a major twist at the Brazilian Grand Prix, the FIA has officially postponed Saturday's qualifying session due to severe weather conditions that made the Sao Paulo circuit unsafe. Heavy rain and standing water plagued the track, forcing officials to push the event to Sunday morning in hopes that conditions will improve, though forecasts suggest similarly challenging weather could persist.

The qualifying session was initially set for 15:00 local time, but as the rain intensified, delays kept pushing the event back, with sunset approaching and leaving no viable slot to ensure a safe session. F1’s official statement confirmed, “After heavy rain and standing water on the circuit, Qualifying for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix is postponed.” The FIA further cited "lack of visibility caused by the level of rain" as the key reason for the delay, emphasizing safety concerns for everyone on-site, from drivers and team members to spectators and officials.

While officials have yet to finalize the new start time, reports suggest qualifying could be held as early as 9:00 a.m. local time on Sunday. Simon Lazenby of Sky Sports mentioned, "What we are hearing is that Qualifying could be held as early as 9 a.m. local time,” which would align to 5:30 PM in India.

A nightmare for Max Verstappen loading!

However, if conditions remain unfavourable and the rescheduled session on Sunday cannot take place, the FIA may resort to using the FP1 standings for the starting grid. This scenario would see British driver Lando Norris in pole position, followed by George Russell, and rookie Oliver Bearman. Interestingly, Max Verstappen would find himself starting from a lowly P20, having finished 15th in FP1 and facing an additional five-place grid penalty.

Drivers have shared mixed reactions to the decision to delay. Lewis Hamilton, speaking to F1 TV, voiced his frustration to Stefano Domenicali, "You should’ve sent us out, this is ridiculous, we should go out!" Hamilton expressed a willingness to compete under the wet conditions, adding, “If you give us better-wet tyres or blankets, we'd be able to run in this!” The champion's comments highlight the tension between driver readiness and FIA’s safety protocols.