F1’s teams and drivers are bracing for “very uncertain” weather conditions at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Saturday with the risk of heavy rain and wind.
The dry weather on Friday’s opening day at Interlagos is expected to give way to far more unsettled conditions into Saturday, when the 24-lap sprint followed by qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix takes place.
The sprint is scheduled for just before lunchtime local time – which is at 14 in the UK and Ireland, live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event – with full qualifying in the afternoon (6pm UK time).
McLaren’s title-leading driver Lando Norris took pole for the Sprint and said: “Obviously we have to prepare for both. [dry and wet] relationship.
“I expect the morning to be heavy rain and incredibly windy at the same time, so let’s wait and see what happens.”
And on the chance of rain, he added: “There’s no point worrying about anything for now. I’m happy with today. It was difficult. It was a good job. I put things together. Now the focus will shift to tomorrow.”
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said: “We know the weather conditions are very uncertain tomorrow: we will have to be perfect in every operation, both on the track and in the garage, to score as many points as possible.”
Brazil’s National Meteorological Institute (INMET) currently has an orange weather warning in place until the end of Saturday for an area of ​​the country, including the metropolitan region of Sao Paulo, where Interlagos is located, for heavy rain and strong winds.
FIA race director Rui Marques informed teams after Sprint qualifying that “due to the expected severe weather conditions” they were allowed to close their garage doors in the pitlane on Friday evening.
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McLaren’s Lando Norris takes pole in the Sao Paulo GP Sprint race as Kimi Antonelli joins Norris on the front row in second place
Unpredictable weather is an annual factor when F1 visits Brazil.
Last year, heavy rain and thunderstorms prevented main qualifying from taking place as planned on Saturday, with the session being moved to the Sunday morning ahead of the race.
Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, who qualified 10th for the Sprint, said: “Obviously the forecast looks quite wet at times. I hope it can be run, that’s always the question here if you remember last year, which was obviously too much rain, and it’s not good either.
“Let’s see what happens. Hopefully we can run and put on a good show for the fans here.”
Could rain help Verstappen and Piastri get back to Norris?
Depending on whether rain coincides with F1’s scheduled run on Saturday, and how heavily it falls on an undulating track where rivers of standing water can form, prompting Safety Cars or even red flags, an unpredictable sprint could give Norris’ two title rivals the chance to get back at the pole-sitter title leader.
Max Verstappen, who is 36 points behind the Briton, qualified only sixth amid struggles with his Red Bull car in the dry, but is regarded as the sport’s current wet-weather specialist and won brilliantly from 17th on the grid in the rain at last year’s full-on Brazilian Grand Prix.
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Max Verstappen blamed ‘car vibrations’ and ‘seizure’ after struggling in Sprint Qualifying at Sao Paulo GP
However, the Dutchman sounded a warning about his chances of a sudden reversal in the wet.
“I don’t know, we’ll find out,” he said. “It’s absolutely clear that we’re missing something, and I don’t expect it to suddenly be miles better in the wet, but we’ll see tomorrow.”
Oscar Piastri, who starts the sprint in third with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli between himself and team-mate Norris, said: “It’s going to be an interesting day. Let’s see what weather we get.
“I will try to take the opportunities that are there. I think the pace in the car has been really good, so hopefully that translates to what we get.”
Sky Sports F1’s Sao Paulo GP schedule
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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments that have taken place at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix
Saturday 8 November
13:00: Sao Paulo GP Sprint build-up
14:00: SAO PAULO GP SPRINT*
3.30pm: Ted’s sprint notebook
17:00: Sao Paulo GP qualifying build-up
18:00: SAO PAULO GP QUALIFYING
20:00: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook
Sunday, November 9
15.30: Grand Prix Sunday: Sao Paulo GP build-up
17.00: SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX
19:00: Checkered flag: Sao Paulo GP reaction
20:00: Ted’s notebook
*also on Sky Sports Main Event
Formula 1’s thrilling title race continues in Brazil with a sprint weekend at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix from Friday, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW – no contract, cancel anytime