For the sixth time in history, qualifying for an F1 Grand Prix takes place on a Sunday, the same day as the race. Postponed by the flood that hit Sao Paulo yesterday, the session determining the starting grid takes place early in the morning, since it is 7:30 a.m. in Interlagos, and therefore 11:30 a.m. in France.
Four hours must be respected between the end of qualifying and the start of the race, the latter will begin at 4:30 p.m. French time. The FIA was proactive and decided to bring forward the start time because showers similar to the day before are forecast this Sunday late in the day in Brazil.
The drivers will compete for pole position on a track that is not perfect, the rain having affected Sao Paulo throughout the night. The track will be damp or even wet all day, and McLaren has decided to abandon its new medium downforce rear wing in favor of a high downforce wing.
McLaren and Ferrari could battle it out for pole, as Max Verstappen will have a five-place grid penalty due to his engine change. It remains to be seen whether Mercedes will have the opportunity to join the fight.
Q1 – 18 minutes
The track is already wet at the start of the session, and the drivers start on full wet tires. But a bigger downpour is coming, and the first times could be decisive for the passage to Q2.
Alex Albon was the first to set a time of 1'32, but Lando Norris did better, before being beaten by Esteban Ocon in 1'30″096. George Russell only placed fourth at 2″5 . The yellow flags followed after several errors by the drivers in the last corner before the climb.
Fernando Alonso placed second ahead of Max Verstappen, and Yuki Tsunoda then Sergio Pérez came between them. Carlos Sainz placed himself between Verstappen and Norris. Lewis Hamilton had his time canceled.
Ocon did even better in 1'29″916, and Valtteri Bottas was the first to test the intermediate tires. But the Stake driver went off the track at turn 4, fortunately without consequences. Lance Stroll went off twice the track and almost crashed into the gravel.
Stroll finally took fifth time, and Verstappen did not do better than his time in sixth place. Franco Colapinto set the eighth provisional time, and Sergio Pérez moved up to second place. Tsunoda took the lead in 1'29″172.
Russell proposed the intermediate tires because the times were progressing and the standing water was less and less present as the drivers passed. Leclerc moved up to second, and the red flag was displayed after an accident by Franco Colapinto. The Argentinian is doing well but this interruption comes a few minutes before a possible heavy downpour.
11h44 : The session resumes in a minute, but Norris reveals that there is “much more rain”. His engineer tells him that the downpour will last two minutes.
Bearman had fitted intermediate tires but was called back to the garage before the green flag to put on rain rubber. With both Mercedes drivers in the elimination zone, Russell passed Albon in the pits, but was blocked by an RB F1.
Norris improved but was no better than 11th, just after Gasly took ninth. Piastri placed fifth just ahead of the Aston Martins. Hamilton progressed with only the 14th fastest time. Albon also improved to seventh position.
Russell missed his first chicane and returned to the track dangerously ahead of Albon. In his next lap, the Briton placed second. Verstappen moved up to fifth place two minutes from the end of this Q1. Hülkenberg spun.
Verstappen's time was canceled and he fell to 12th position, while Hamilton did not do better than his 17th place. Lawson also had a time canceled and dropped to 18th place. Norris also saw his time canceled.
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