F1 FIA CONFIRMED: New Timings for São Paulo Grand Prix QUALIF

New Timings Confirmed for São Paulo Grand Prix Qualifying and Race After Weather Postponement

After the postponement of Saturday’s São Paulo Grand Prix qualifying session due to severe weather, the FIA and Formula 1 have confirmed rescheduled timings for both qualifying and the race. The decision came after torrential rain, accompanied by thunder and lightning, created unsafe track conditions at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, also known as Interlagos. The revised schedule now places qualifying on Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m. local time (10:30 a.m. UK time), just hours before the Grand Prix itself, which has been moved forward to 12:30 p.m. local time (3:30 p.m. UK time).

The original schedule had set qualifying to begin at 3:00 p.m. local time on Saturday. However, just before the start of Q1, a downpour of rain, coupled with dangerous thunder and lightning, left parts of the circuit with large pools of standing water. Visibility became a major issue as well, and despite the FIA and race officials delaying the start of the session in hopes that conditions would improve, the rain persisted, leading to the postponement of qualifying altogether.

After several hours of monitoring the weather and the track conditions, the FIA determined that it would not be safe to proceed with any on-track action. The potential for hydroplaning and the lack of visibility, combined with the diminishing daylight, made it impossible to run a session safely. The decision to postpone qualifying was made with the safety of drivers, teams, marshals, and fans as the top priority.

In an official statement released by the FIA and Formula 1, they explained the rationale behind the decision: “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.”

The statement continued, “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.”

The governing bodies acknowledged the disappointment of fans but emphasized that the decision was made with their safety in mind as well as that of the teams and track personnel. They also recognized the efforts of all those involved in the event, including the drivers, teams, marshals, circuit staff, and media, who waited throughout the day in anticipation of a possible session.

After consulting with the stewards and taking into account the weather forecast for Sunday, the FIA confirmed that qualifying would take place at 7:30 a.m. local time. This will give teams and drivers limited time between the end of qualifying and the race, which is set to begin just five hours later at 12:30 p.m. local time. The early morning qualifying session is expected to take place in more favorable weather conditions, with rain anticipated to return later in the day.

The revised schedule aims to maximize the chances of providing fans with a full day of racing action. The rescheduling of both sessions into Sunday morning and early afternoon minimizes the risk of further weather-related disruptions, as heavy rain is forecast to continue into the afternoon and evening.

For teams and drivers, the condensed Sunday schedule will present unique challenges. Normally, they would have a day to review qualifying data, adjust strategies, and make necessary tweaks ahead of the race. However, with qualifying now just hours before the start of the Grand Prix, teams will have little time to react and prepare.

This compressed timetable could lead to surprises in both qualifying and the race, as drivers will need to quickly adapt to changing track conditions. The possibility of rain in the later stages of the race adds an extra layer of unpredictability, which could benefit drivers who excel in wet conditions, such as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

The São Paulo Grand Prix is known for its passionate fans, and despite Saturday’s weather frustrations, the atmosphere at Interlagos is expected to remain electric. Thousands of fans are anticipated to fill the stands early on Sunday to witness the rescheduled qualifying session and the Grand Prix. With the weather still posing a significant factor, the race promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with plenty of drama and potential for upsets.

The FIA and Formula 1 have expressed their hope that Sunday will provide the fans with the action-packed racing day they’ve been waiting for, while prioritizing safety and ensuring that the event runs as smoothly as possible despite the ongoing weather challenges.

As the drivers prepare for a challenging day ahead, all eyes will be on Interlagos to see who will come out on top in what promises to be a dramatic São Paulo Grand Prix.