Lightning, thunder and a lot of rain: Fear in São Paulo: Storms stop Formula 1

The Formula 1 qualifying in São Paulo will be a test of patience due to a severe thunderstorm with torrential rain. The start has already had to be postponed several times – whether it can even be driven remains unclear for the time being. With sweepers, shovels and brooms they tried to get the water off the track at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace. The rain let up, but didn’t stop at first. Even the drivers took photos of the partly flooded route under the large umbrella.

However, the rain came with an announcement. It is conceivable that if the qualification is canceled on Saturday, it will be made up for on Sunday morning. It wouldn’t be the first time. However, the forecast for Sunday is similar to even worse with an extremely high chance of rain.

Nobody knows yet what would happen if it wasn’t possible to drive. The Brazilian Grand Prix is ​​the third race on three consecutive weekends, starting in Austin and continuing in Mexico City. There are three weeks until the next Grand Prix, which takes place in Las Vegas.

There are still three race weekends left after Brazil. In the standings, defending champion Max Verstappen in the Red Bull leads with 44 points ahead of Lando Norris in the McLaren. The Brit had reduced his deficit by three points by winning the sprint race in São Paulo before the planned qualification – it was still dry then.

McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri had – as announced – given victory to Norris. The Australian started from pole and held the lead until shortly before the end before he allowed Norris to overtake. Charles Leclerc came third.

The Ferrari driver subsequently moved up to third place after world champion and championship leader Max Verstappen received a five-second penalty in the Red Bull for violating the rules at the end of a virtual safety car phase. He fell from third to fourth place.

The storm began almost an hour before the qualification, which was scheduled to start today at 3 p.m. local time – 7 p.m. CET. Within a very short time, the water flowed in torrents over the route and the sky over the Brazilian metropolis was dark gray. In the stands, the fans hurriedly put on rain capes and tried to find some kind of shelter.

Racing was initially out of the question. 22 minutes before it was supposed to start, the race management announced: The start of qualifying would be delayed. When it could start remained unclear at the beginning. At least the rainfall became lighter and the race management scheduled the new start of the knockout phase for 4:00 p.m. local time – 8:00 p.m. CET.

After that we hung on for another quarter of an hour. It was a test of patience. But it was also clear that those responsible would not keep pushing back the knockout stage; sunset is at 6:06 p.m. local time. The race director inspected the track, but there was still too much water on it. Bernd Mayländer drove lap after lap with the safety car before parking it back in the pits.

In 2010, Hülkenberg took pole in the rain

There was already a wet qualifying 14 years ago, when Nico Hülkenberg sensationally took pole in the Williams for the first and only time – he is still there this time, but in the Haas.