F1 Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying DELAYED as FIA issue statement

Photo: © IMAGO

Brazilian Grand Prix Qualifying

Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying DELAYED as FIA issue statement

Qualifying was delayed at the Brazilian Grand Prix

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Saturday 2 November 2024 20:49

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The all-important F1 qualifying session for the main race at the Brazilian Grand Prix has been delayed after an official statement from the FIA.

Following Saturday's thrilling sprint race, which was won by championship challenger Lando Norris, attentions switched to qualifying for the main race.

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Max Verstappen, who was given a five-second penalty in the sprint earlier on Saturday to demote him to fourth, also had to contend with a five-place grid penalty for Sunday's main race, having changed his internal combustion engine (ICE).

It meant that qualifying in Brazil was crucial for the three-time champion, as he seeks to limit damage to his championship lead this weekend.

Max Verstappen was looking to bounce back from a disappointing sprint race

The Brazilian Grand Prix is often subject to storms

Brazilian GP qualifying delayed by torrential rain

Less than 20 minutes from the expected start of the all-important qualifying session, the FIA announced that it would be delayed, due to adverse weather conditions.

Thundery showers had been forecasted at the circuit for much of Saturday and Sunday, with a 60% chance of rain falling during qualifying.

However, the arrival of a huge weather front just ahead of the session forced the FIA to act, with the sport's governing body announcing in an official statement that teams were being allowed to close their garage doors in order to keep everything dry.

The rain is coming down!! ?️#BrazilGP ?? pic.twitter.com/7RgyK4BgnE
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) November 2, 2024

The FIA then revealed that qualifying would be delayed, with an update later suggesting that qualifying could get underway in wet conditions. However, after a lot of delaying of the proposed start time, the FIA eventually announced that it had been called off for Saturday.

The Sky Sports F1 team were forced to cover under a roofed section of the paddock, with torrential rain also causing Red Bull team principal Christian Horner to sprint inside for the safety of the Red Bull hospitality suite.