People sitting in the stands fled screaming for fear of the roof falling on their heads. As far as we know, there have been no casualties yet. On Friday evening, the circuit in southeastern Brazil, the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, was hit by a heavy storm. Just after Max Verstappen recorded the fastest time in Q3 and with it secured pole positionthe red flag flew in fear of the storm.
Formula 1 photographer Andy Hone reports on X that he was ‘almost decapitated by debris’. It also started to rain heavily in São Paulo, where pitch black clouds gathered above the circuit.
“We didn’t know exactly what was going to happen during qualifying. But this weather was insane,” said Max Verstappen after qualifying. “Our laps felt terrible, the wind changed and we lost a lot of time. It was very hectic in that last lap.”
“This was the strangest session ever,” said Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc. “I have never experienced this in my entire career. It felt like it was raining, but there was no rain at all. It was super strange.”