Brazil GP qualifying: Heavy rain forces postponement of F1 qualifying

Summary

Due to safety concerns, F1 qualifying will be postponed until Saturday morning due to torrential rain at the Brazilian circuit.

The incident

The session was set to begin at 4pm local time, but was delayed by 15 minutes due to the rain. However, the rain continued to fall, and the track was deemed to be too wet and dangerous to drive on.

The decision was made to postpone qualifying until Saturday morning at 11am local time. This will give the track more time to dry out and improve conditions.

The impact

The postponement will have a number of knock-on effects. The starting grid for Sunday's race will be determined by the results of the qualifying session, so the delay could lead to some changes in the order.

It could also affect the strategy of the teams and drivers. The weather forecast for Saturday is better than for Friday, so some teams may decide to save their tires for the race.

Expert analysis

"The rain has made it too dangerous to drive," said Formula One race director Michael Masi.

"The track is wet and slippery, and there is a lot of standing water. We have decided to postpone qualifying until Saturday morning, when the conditions are expected to be better."

Conclusion

The postponement of F1 qualifying is a disappointment, but it is the right decision under the circumstances.

The safety of the drivers is paramount, and the track was simply too dangerous to drive on.