Can Lando Norris Still Win The Drivers’ Championship?Qualifying at the Brazilian Grand Prix was postponed on Saturday evening due to heavy rain at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo.
After a change in timings late on Saturday evening, qualifying is now scheduled to take place at 10.30am GMT (7.30am local) on Sunday morning, though heavy rain is also expected throughout Sunday too. The race is now scheduled to start at the earlier time of 3.30pm GMT (12.30pm local) on Sunday.
It remains to be seen how the grid for Sunday’s race would be decided if qualifying was unable to take place.
The session, which sets the grid for Sunday’s grand prix, was constantly pushed back on Saturday afternoon, with the FIA conducting regular checks of the track surface.
Follow all the latest updates from the Brazilian Grand Prix with The Independent
Qualifying and race times changed for SundaySome late news filtering through that the timings of qualifying and the race on Sunday have now changed due to the weather forecast.
Qualifying is now scheduled to take place at 10.30am GMT (7.30am local) on Sunday morning, though heavy rain is also expected throughout Sunday too. The race is now scheduled to start at the earlier time of 3.30pm GMT (12.30pm local) on Sunday.
The FIA statement confirming the change reads: “Following the conditions in São Paulo today the decision was taken not to proceed with Qualifying due to poor visibility, standing water on the track and fading light. Safety is always the paramount consideration in such circumstances and while as much time as possible was given to allow conditions to improve they sadly did not.
“We have huge appreciation for all the fans that stayed at the circuit in hope of seeing cars on track today.Therefore the decision has been taken, after consultation with the stewards, to schedule Qualifying for 07:30 local time on Sunday morning ahead of the Grand Prix at 12:30 local.
“This will ensure we maximise the chances or providing the fans with a day of racing action, given the ongoing weather forecast for tomorrow afternoon, and both the FIA and Formula 1 believe this time change is necessary and the right thing to do for all our passionate fans.
“We thank everyone for their patience today including the fans, drivers, teams, marshals, circuit staff and media and hope to give everyone an exciting event on Sunday.”
Heavy rain played havoc with the schedule at Interlagos (Getty Images)Luke Baker2 November 2024 22:04
Lewis Hamilton to Stefano Domenicali on F1 TV:“You should’ve sent us out, this is ridiculous, we should go out!”
“I wanna go out! If you give us better wet tyres or blankets we’d be able to run in this!”
(Getty Images)Kieran Jackson2 November 2024 21:15
Mercedes driver George Russell…“I don’t know what to do now… head back!”
Kieran Jackson2 November 2024 20:46
Brazil GP qualifying postponed after heavy rain and lightning at InterlagosQualifying at the Brazilian Grand Prix was postponed on Saturday evening due to heavy rain at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo.
The session is now scheduled to take place at 9am local time (12pm GMT), though heavy rain is also expected on Sunday too.
Kieran Jackson2 November 2024 20:24
FIA STATEMENTThe Qualifying for the São Paulo Grand Prix is postponed.
The decision was taken due to the lack of visibility caused by the level of rain we have experienced in the past few hours.
There is a lot of standing water on parts of the circuit which renders conditions unsafe. As much as we would all like to see competition on track, the safety of drivers, team members, volunteers, officials and spectators is our main priority.
A decision on a start time for Qualifying tomorrow morning will be taken as soon as possible.
Kieran Jackson2 November 2024 20:12
UPDATE: Qualifying in Brazil postponed to Sunday Confirmation then from the FIA that qualifying is postponed.
A start time for Sunday morning is yet to be announced.
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)Kieran Jackson2 November 2024 19:58
F1 UPDATE “If we end up with Q not happening today all tickets are three days so fans will be back tomorrow and thankfully will see what they missed today.”
Kieran Jackson2 November 2024 19:54
FIA CEO Stefano Domenicali: “Tomorrow. The FIA are looking for the right timing.”
Kieran Jackson2 November 2024 19:52
Qualifying set to be postponedMechanics are putting their things away and drivers are out waving to some very wet fans.
All the signs point towards a postponement.
Kieran Jackson2 November 2024 19:50
FIA UPDATE “Start of qualifying is postponed.”
So no longer an estimated time. It looks set to be tomorrow, folks.
Amazingly, there is no provision in the regulations for how the grid is set for Sunday’s grand prix if qualifying does not take place.
Kieran Jackson2 November 2024 19:47
