Cyclone feared: Weather puts F1 Brazil GP Sprint race further in doubt

Local meteorologists reported a risk of power outages, fallen trees, and flooding. The most severe weather is expected to hit the circuit over Saturday morning, after which the rain should ease.

The Sprint is scheduled for 11 am local time. Formula 1 and the FIA are therefore closely monitoring the situation, but it is uncertain whether the Sprint will go ahead as planned. There isn’t much room to manoeuvre, as qualifying for the Grand Prix is set to take place later in the day.

According to the regulations, there must be at least three hours between the end of the Sprint and the start of qualifying.

In practice, the Sprint could be delayed by two or three hours before the maximum start time for qualifying becomes at risk. It begins to get dark in São Paulo around 5:30 pm local time.

One possible option would be to move the Grand Prix qualifying session to Sunday.

If the FIA (by necessity) decides to move one or both of Saturday’s sessions, it would be a setback for Max Verstappen. The Dutchman is hoping for wet conditions, knowing he excels in them — having won at Interlagos in 2024 under similar circumstances.

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