Heavy rain forced the cancellation of Saturday evening’s session and, in an unlikely move, moved the Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying to Sunday.
After several delays, it was decided at 1.45 pm that the track was too wet and that conditions would not improve for the qualifying session, which was scheduled to begin at 6 pm UK time on Saturday.
“The decision was made not to proceed with qualifying due to poor visibility, standing water on the track, and fading light,” read a joint statement from Formula 1 and the FIA, the race’s governing body.
“In such situations, safety is always the most important factor, and although every effort was made to give conditions time to improve, they unfortunately did not.”
In an attempt to reduce Max Verstappen’s lead in the Drivers’ Championship, Lando Norris was forced to wait instead. The Red Bull man has a 44-point advantage.
But when Norris won the sprint race in Sao Paolo, that advantage was diminished, even though he received a huge boost from teammate Oscar Piastri.
Lewis Hamilton pleads with FIA
Following the postponement of Saturday’s qualifying session, Lewis Hamilton was seen begging with the FIA.
When the meeting was postponed, Stefano Domenicali, the CEO of Formula One Group, was parading around the paddock.
Hamilton wanted to start the session, so he greeted him as he entered Mercedes’ area.
“I’d like to go out,” he declared. “We could go out in this if you give us better wet tires.”
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