Kieran is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs and feature content across the F1 calendar. An NQJ-qualified journalist with more than a decade of experience, he has previously written for publications including MailOnline, the Manchester Evening News and the Eastern Daily Press.
George Russell and Isack Hadjar have warned that the Sao Paulo Grand Prix should not go ahead if Saturday's Q1 downpour returns this afternoon.
Both drivers handled the full wet tyres in qualifying, but they say that racing in that much water, with a full field running close together, would be a different matter.
Qualifying at Interlagos was red-flagged within minutes of Q1 starting, after drivers reported aquaplaning. It finally resumed at 16:26 local time, 84 minutes after the green light first came on. This was the first time the full wet tyre has been used in anger under the 2026 rules, as there was so much standing water that intermediates could not be used once the session got going again.
Russell and Hadjar say qualifying conditions are unraceable
Both Russell and Hadjar gave blunt responses when asked about the rain in qualifying. Russell qualified second but was disappointed that a mistake cost him P1. He will line up in P7 however after being handed a five-place grid penalty.
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"The visibility was zero down the straight into Turn 4," the Mercedes driver said, adding that he was wheel-spinning and aquaplaning in fifth gear at over 200km/h.
I love driving in the rain here, but at some point, if that was a race, there was no way we should be driving in that because the chances of seeing a really, really horrific incident are very, very high.- George Russell after qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix
He added: "I hope it is wet tomorrow. I feel I've got a greater chance if it's wet." That opinion was also given by Lando Norris, who believes the race will have to be wet if he can challenge the Mercedes cars.
Isack Hadjar, who will line up in fifth for today's race said: "Honestly, I expected more grip. Usually, on a full wet, everything's a bit more comfortable. You you put them on and basically you run through the aquaplaning. And today, it was not the case at all.
"So it needs to be a lot better for next year because we we cannot possibly race in these conditions."
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Rain is also forecast for today at Interlagos, although it is not expected to be as heavy as in qualifying. Temperatures are also expected to be much colder than on Saturday, which could make it hard to get heat into the tyres.
Any decision to delay the start will affect a grid already shaken up by penalties. Lando Norris starts on pole ahead of Kimi Antonelli, and Liam Lawson starts third for Racing Bulls. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen start 20th and 21st, so both have reason to hope for rain.
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