F1 Brazilian GP under storm threat as official weather warning forecasts brutal conditions

The F1 Brazilian Grand Prix is facing brutal weather conditions later today (Sunday November 8) with an official storm warning issued for the Sao Paulo region.

The 71-lap race at Interlagos is due to begin at 2pm local time (5pm UK), but the weather is threatening major disruption with heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail and powerful wind gusts all featuring in the official forecast.

Brazil's National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) has issued a yellow storm warning for Sao Paulo, forecasting rainfall of between 20 and 30mm per hour, with accumulated totals potentially reaching 50mm throughout the day.

The warning also highlights the possibility of hail and wind gusts reaching between 40 and 60km/h, creating the prospect of seriously challenging conditions around the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace.

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Forecast shows major concern for F1 race

AccuWeather's hourly forecast for Interlagos is reporting a 71 percent chance of rain during the race.

The race weekend has already been disrupted by bad weather, with heavy rain causing delays to Saturday's qualifying session.

Temperatures are expected to hover around 16-17°C, making for a considerably cooler afternoon than normally associated with this race.

Interlagos is renowned for producing unpredictable races, and the prospect of changing weather conditions adds another layer of uncertainty to an already demanding circuit.

Heavy showers could leave drivers battling for grip, with standing water, reduced visibility and the threat of aquaplaning potentially making sections of the track particularly treacherous.

The conditions could also create a strategic headache for teams, with the timing of tyre changes potentially proving crucial if rain arrives in waves or the circuit switches between wet and drying conditions.

The official yellow warning remains in force until 23:59 local time on Sunday.

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