SAO PAULO — A major storm appears set to hit the Interlagos Formula 1 circuit ahead of Saturday’s sprint race, which might have major ramifications on the Sao Paulo Grand Prix schedule.
Brazil’s National Institute of Meteorology has issued an orange alert for storms, predicting heavy rain and high winds in the morning.
The inclement weather might extend through the day — Formula 1 has a sprint race at 11 a.m. local time before qualifying for Sunday’s grand prix at 3 p.m. local time.
The FIA confirmed to ESPN that the worst weather is estimated to hit the circuit between 6 and 9 a.m., although a spokesperson was quick to point out that expectations could change overnight.
A view of the track at Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Zak Mauger/LAT Images
A delay to the sprint race, where Lando Norris will start on the pole, could have an impact on the start time of the one-hour qualifying session.
Sunset is at 6.30 p.m. in Sao Paulo, giving a short window to move things around. Brazil’s race has become synonymous for bad weather, which has led to memorable and dramatic events for decades.
Last year, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen turned in one of the great drives of F1’s modern era, going from 17th to victory in heavy rain that caught out many in the field.
Bad weather could benefit Verstappen again Saturday. The championship outsider starts the sprint from sixth position, having looked off the pace in dry conditions.
There are other concerns beyond simply the timing of the sessions. Paddock curfew ends at 6.30 a.m., meaning the time currently estimated as the worst for weather would be right as team personnel arrive to prepare their cars for the day. Advice to teams has been to keep garages closed outside of any on-track activities to minimize ill-effects from the weather.
The FIA will monitor the situation throughout the day. Should the schedule be affected dramatically, qualifying could also be moved to Sunday. The last time that happened was when a typhoon washed out the Saturday running of the 2019 Japanese Grand Prix.
If qualifying for the grand prix itself cannot go ahead, F1’s rules state that the grid will be determined by championship position.
