Lightning, thunder and a lot of rain: Formula 1 after rain chaos in São Paulo before a stressful Sunday

After the chaos Saturday with a severe storm and the cancellation of qualification, Formula 1 is facing a very stressful Sunday in the middle of the title fight. Because heavy rain was also feared on race day in the afternoon, those responsible for the premier motorsport class quickly moved the Brazilian Grand Prix forward by an hour and a half to 12.30 p.m. local time (4.30 p.m. CET/Sky). Five hours before there is also the qualification at 7.30 a.m. in São Paulo.

“This will ensure we maximize the chances of giving fans a day of racing action and both the FIA ​​and Formula 1 believe this time difference is necessary and the right thing for all of our passionate fans,” one said joint statement as the last supporters left the Autodrómo on Saturday evening. A day that once again cemented the legendary status of the course for drama and spectacle despite limited travel times.

After World Championship pursuer Lando Norris’s victory in the sprint race, with which the British McLaren driver reduced the gap to defending champion Max Verstappen to 44 points on a still dry track, a storm raged. Some torrential rain had started less than an hour before the knockout, and 1:45 hours after the planned start of qualifying, the race management made the decision to cancel it. “We can’t control the weather. The conditions weren’t safe enough,” emphasized Formula 1 managing director Stefano Domenicali.

Qualification and race on the same day

The hunt for the best starting positions will now take place on Sunday. For the teams and their many employees it will be a half-night shift with a long day. Because after the race, the clean-up work begins immediately. And that at the end of an exhausting three-pack with the races in Austin in the US state of Texas, in Mexico City and São Paulo one after the other without a breather.

The early timing of the rescheduling in Brazil is also intended to prevent further cancellations given the weather forecasts. A Grand Prix had to be canceled on site twice, in Belgium in 1985 due to severe damage to the asphalt, and then in Melbourne in 2020 due to the corona pandemic.

All attempts bring nothing

Using 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. The fans still celebrated in the stands and shined their cell phone flashlights.

Within a very short time, the water flowed in torrents over the route and the sky over the Brazilian metropolis was dark gray. 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 rescheduled the start of the knockout phase several times.

It was a test of patience. But it was also clear that those responsible would not keep pushing back the knockout stage; sunset should be 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. This already indicates the cancellation.

Verstappen also starts with a handicap

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 Championship leader 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 and goes into Sunday with a penalty of five starting places because of an illegal new engine, which gives this world championship fight a special Brazilian touch.