SAO PAULO – A major storm is set to hit the Interlagos Formula 1 Circuit ahead of Saturday’s sprint race, which could have a major impact on the Sao Paulo Grand Prix schedule.
Brazil’s National Meteorological Institute has issued an orange alert for the storm, predicting heavy rain and strong winds in the morning.
Bad weather may continue throughout the day – Formula 1 has sprint races at 11am local time and qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix at 3pm local time.
The FIA confirmed to ESPN that the worst weather was expected to hit the circuit between 6 and 9 a.m., although a spokesperson immediately pointed out that expectations could change overnight.
Delay in sprint race, where lando norris Starting on pole may impact the start time of the one-hour qualifying session.
Sunset in Sao Paulo is at 6.30pm, giving a small window to move things around. The Brazilian race has become synonymous with inclement weather, leading to memorable and dramatic events for decades.
Last year, Red Bull’s max verstappen It became one of the greatest drives of F1’s modern era, moving from 17th to victory amid heavy rain that engulfed many in the field.
Bad weather may benefit Verstappen again on Saturday. Championship outsiders start the sprint from sixth place given the pace in dry conditions.
There are other concerns besides the timing of the sessions. Paddock curfew ends at 6.30am, meaning the worst forecast for the weather at present will be in place as team staff arrive to prepare their cars for the day. Teams have been advised to keep garages closed outside any on-track activities to minimize the adverse effects of the weather.
The FIA will monitor the situation throughout the day. If the schedule is dramatically affected, qualifying could even be moved to Sunday. The last time this happened was when Saturday’s race at the 2019 Japanese Grand Prix was wiped out due to a typhoon.
If qualifying for the Grand Prix itself cannot proceed, F1 rules state that the grid will be determined by championship position.
