The Sao Paulo Grand Prix has faced a postponement of its qualifying session due to heavy rainfall, now set to take place on Sunday. The new schedule has qualifying starting at 07:30 local time (10:30 UK), while the race will begin earlier than originally planned, at 12:30 local time (15:30 UK). This adjustment comes in response to predictions of additional rain expected on Sunday afternoon.

Originally, qualifying was slated to commence at 15:00 local time (18:00 UK) on Saturday. However, after several delays, officials declared at 16:45 that the track conditions were too hazardous for safe racing. A statement from the FIA and Formula 1 emphasized that poor visibility, standing water, and diminishing light made it impossible to proceed safely. The primary concern was ensuring the safety of all participants, and despite efforts to wait for an improvement in conditions, it became clear that this was not forthcoming.

Given the weather forecast indicating more heavy rain later in the day, moving the race to an earlier start was deemed necessary. To comply with regulations that require a minimum gap between qualifying and the race, the qualifying session had to shift to an earlier time. The statement from officials indicated that this change aims to maximize opportunities for fans to enjoy racing action amid adverse weather conditions.

During an interview with F1 president Stefano Domenicali regarding the decision to delay qualifying, Lewis Hamilton expressed his frustration and suggested that better wet tires could allow drivers to race despite the conditions. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz acknowledged the fans' enthusiasm despite the rain but noted that qualifying simply could not happen under those circumstances.

Heading into this Grand Prix, Max Verstappen from Red Bull leads McLaren’s Lando Norris by a margin of 44 points in the championship standings. Norris managed to close the gap slightly by winning a sprint race held on Saturday, while Verstappen finished fourth after receiving a penalty for speeding during a virtual safety car period.

The recent downpours occurred between the sprint race and the scheduled qualifying session. Hamilton’s comments about tire performance reflect ongoing discussions within Formula 1 about improving safety and performance during wet conditions.