F1 teams and drivers are bracing for “highly uncertain” weather conditions for Saturday’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix, with a risk of heavy rain and winds.
Dry conditions on Friday’s opening day at Interlagos are expected to lead to even more unsettled conditions on Saturday, when the 24-lap sprint and Sunday’s Grand Prix qualifying take place.
The sprint is scheduled just before lunchtime local time. It will be broadcast live in the UK and Ireland at 2pm. Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event – The full qualifying round will take place in the afternoon (6pm UK time).
McLaren’s title-leading driver Lando Norris took pole in the sprint and said: “Of course we have to be prepared for both (dry and wet) conditions.
“We’re expecting heavy rain in the morning and really strong winds at the same time. We’ll see what happens.”
And at the thought that it might rain, he added, “There’s no need to worry about anything now. I’m satisfied with today. It was hard. Good job. I’ve sorted it out. Now the focus will shift to tomorrow.”
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McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri reminisce about the first day of the Sao Paulo GP.
“We know that the weather conditions tomorrow are very uncertain and we need to do everything perfectly both on the track and in the garage to score as many points as possible,” said McLaren team principal Andrea Stella.
Brazil’s National Meteorological Institute (INMET) is currently issuing an orange weather warning for heavy rain and strong winds for the entire country, including the Sao Paulo metropolitan area where Interlagos is located, until the end of Saturday.
FIA race director Rui Marques informed teams after sprint qualifying that pit lane garage doors could be closed on Friday night “due to the expected bad weather.”
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McLaren’s Lando Norris took the lead in the Sao Paulo GP sprint race, with Kimi Antonelli joining Norris in second on the front row.
Unpredictable weather is a yearly factor when F1 visits Brazil.
Last year, due to heavy rain and thunderstorms, Saturday’s qualifying round did not proceed as scheduled, and the session was moved to Sunday morning ahead of the match.
Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, who finished 10th in the sprint, said: “Obviously the weather forecast looks pretty wet at times. I hope it’s workable. If you remember last year, that’s always the question here, obviously there was too much rain and that wasn’t good either.
“We’ll see what happens. Hopefully we can put on a good show for the fans here.”
Will the rain allow Verstappen and Piastri to return to Norris?
Depending on whether the rain coincides with F1’s scheduled race on Saturday, and whether a safety car or even a red flag is needed depending on how much rain falls on the undulating track where standing water can form rivers, an unpredictable sprint could give Norris’ two title contenders a chance to return to the pole-sitting title leaders.
Max Verstappen, 36 points behind the Briton, was only sixth as his Red Bull cars struggled on dry surfaces, but he is now regarded as the sport’s wet-weather expert and brilliantly won last year’s overall grand prix in Brazil from 17th on a rain-affected grid.
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Max Verstappen blames ‘car vibration’ and ‘grip’ after struggling in sprint qualifying at the Sao Paulo GP.
But the Dutchman was wary of the possibility of a sudden change of direction in a wet spot.
“I don’t know. We’ll find out,” he said. “It’s clear we’re missing something. We don’t expect things to suddenly get much better in the wet. But we’ll see tomorrow.”
Oscar Piastri, who will start the sprint third between Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and team-mate Norris, said: “It’s going to be an interesting day, we’ll see what the weather is like.
“I’ll try to take any opportunity. I think the speed of the car was really good, so I hope that translates to whatever we get.”
Sky Sports F1 Sao Paulo GP Schedule
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Take a look back at the most dramatic moments from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Saturday, November 8
1pm: Sao Paulo GP sprint build-up
2pm: Sao Paulo GP Sprint*
3:30 PM: Ted’s sprint notes
5pm: Preparing for Sao Paulo GP qualifying
6pm: Sao Paulo GP qualifying
8 p.m.: Ted’s Qualifying Notes
Sunday, November 9
3.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Sao Paulo GP build-up
5 p.m.: Sao Paulo Grand Prix
7pm: Checkered flag: Sao Paulo GP reaction
8 p.m.: Ted’s Notes
*Applies to Sky Sports main event as well
Formula 1’s thrilling title race continues in Brazil with the São Paulo Grand Prix Sprint Weekend, broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 from this Friday. Stream Sky Sports NOW – No Commitment, Cancel Anytime
