Friday’s qualifying session at the Interlagos circuit was interrupted by an intense storm, bringing out the red flag and a premature end to the on-track action. The weather also caused some structural damage, leading to a grandstand roof collapsing.
As the drivers filtered back into the pit lane at the end of Q2 on Friday afternoon the skies began to darken with the threat of imminent rain looming over the field.
With the rain expected to hit at any minute, there was a scramble to begin flying laps. By the time it had hit the circuit, reigning world champion Max Verstappen had secured the top spot on the timing screens.
Once the rain did hit, it did so with ferocity, bringing out the red flag and triggering the FIA to declare that the session would not resume. It also caused major damage to the circuit’s infrastructure, causing a grandstand roof to collapse.
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F1 photographer Andy Hone showcased the damage on the X social media platform with the caption: “What a scary 10 minutes on track! A grandstand roof collapsed at the last corner and nearly got decapitated by falling debris!”
Fan-filmed footage later emerged from within the grandstands with supporters shrieking in terror as the tarpaulin became detached from the metal structure, exposing them to the elements.
On the track, there was more positive action to celebrate, but the drivers were left astonished after experiencing the unpredictable and extreme conditions Sao Paulo offered up.
Charles Leclerc finished P2 in qualifying behind Verstappen, explaining: “In my whole career I have never experienced something like that. From Turn 4 onwards there was no rain. But the car was extremely difficult to drive, no grip.
“I was thinking about coming in at the end of the lap but I finished it and it was P2. So a really good surprise. A very weird one for everyone at the track.”
The unpredictable conditions offered up some major surprises when the session came to an end, and none more so than Lance Stroll finishing third after a run of Q1 exits.
Aston Martin’s under-fire driver ended a run of back-to-back P20 qualifying finishes to outqualify team-mate Fernando Alonso, as well as both McLaren and Mercedes drivers.
