WATCH: Carlos Sainz suffers devastating high-speed crash at Senna turn in flooded Sao Paulo GP quali

In a chaotic and rain-drenched qualifying session at Interlagos for the São Paulo Grand Prix, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz suffered a high-speed crash at the iconic Senna S turn. The torrential rain left F1 officials with little choice but to allow drivers onto the track with wet and intermediate tyres, creating an unpredictable environment where the grip was minimal and risks were high.

The dangerous conditions ultimately led to a challenging Qualifying 2 for Sainz, with a heavy impact that brought out the red flag and left his team facing an uphill battle to repair his car for the main race. Sainz's accident came as he navigated the tricky Turn 2 at the Senna Esses, where he attempted to feather the throttle on intermediate tyres.

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Despite his efforts, he lost control of the Ferrari, sending it spinning off the track. This spot is rarely the scene of incidents, making Sainz’s crash both unexpected and particularly concerning due to the rear-end damage inflicted on his car. Ferrari’s mechanics now have the significant task of working against the clock to repair the vehicle and get Sainz ready for race day.

Lewis Hamilton out in Q1!

In an effort to balance performance and control in the rain, several drivers experimented with their tyre choices during Qualifying 2. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, for instance, decided to push with intermediate tyres, clocking an impressive 1:25.179 lap time while others were still adjusting to the full wets. Piastri’s daring choice paid off, setting a strong benchmark for others who were cautious amid the slippery conditions.

Earlier in Qualifying 1, the first red flag of the day came when Franco Colapinto of Williams crashed at Turn 3, which also resulted in a spin-out. Although Colapinto was unharmed, his team faced additional delays as they scrambled to repair the car, losing valuable qualifying time. This incident set the tone for a session that was fraught with difficulties, as drivers struggled to navigate the wet track while conserving their limited supply of full wet tyres across qualifying and race day.

In an unfortunate turn, Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton, usually dominant at Interlagos, struggled in the soaked conditions. Despite matching teammate George Russell in the first and third sectors, he lost nearly 1.7 seconds in Sector 2, landing him at a disappointing 16th position in Q1, with elimination from qualifying. Other drivers joining him out in Q1 included Oliver Bearman, Nico Hulkenberg, and Zhou Guanyu, all unable to keep pace in the treacherous conditions.