The Interlagos Formula 1 circuit in Sao Paulo (Brazil) is expected to be hit by storms on Saturday that could affect the sprint and/or qualifying.
Brazil’s National Institute of Meteorology issued an orange storm warning on Friday, predicting heavy rain and strong winds for Saturday morning, possibly lasting throughout the day.
A spokesman for the World Automobile Federation (FIA) told Motorsport.com, a sister platform of Motorsport-Total.com on the Motorsport Network, that the peak of the storm is expected to arrive between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. local time in Sao Paulo (10 a.m. to 1 p.m. CET), with possible wind gusts of up to 75 km/h.
The forecasts from various weather services are still inconsistent as of Friday evening. Most forecasts predict rain and strong winds, but Sao Paulo’s weather has been known for its unpredictability for years.
In the event of an approaching storm, Formula 1 teams will be instructed to keep their pits closed outside of session times to minimize the impact of the weather. The FIA will then assess the situation and decide how to proceed if bad weather sets in.
Limited time window for postponement of the Formula 1 sprint
The sprint is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. local time (3 p.m. CET) in Sao Paulo. There is a possibility of it being postponed should conditions be deemed unsuitable for racing.
Qualifying is scheduled for 2 p.m. local time (6:00 p.m. CET). The sporting regulations of Formula 1 stipulate that qualifying may not begin until three hours after the end of the sprint at the earliest.
This only provides a limited window of opportunity to reschedule the sprint as sunset in Sao Paulo is at 6:30 p.m.
Should the FIA want to carry out the sprint, there could be a repeat of last year’s schedule due to weather conditions. On the Brazil weekend in 2024, qualifying was postponed from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning.
The storms are currently expected to subside by Saturday evening at the latest and the chance of rain on Sunday is significantly lower. In order to award championship points, at least half of the scheduled 24 laps must be completed in the sprint, with two or more laps being driven without a safety car. Half points are not provided for in the sprint regulations.