F1 Warns of Flooding Risk at Interlagos as Heavy Rain Threatens Sao Paulo Qualifying

Formula 1 has warned teams and fans that heavy rain could cause localised flooding and standing water at Interlagos ahead of this weekend's Sao Paulo Grand Prix, putting Saturday's qualifying session at real risk of disruption. The official forecast gives rain a 50 percent chance on Saturday, with significant rainfall possible from early afternoon, just before qualifying is due to begin, and temperatures could reach 27 degrees Celsius with wind gusts of up to 50 kilometres per hour. The unsettled weather is expected to linger into Sunday's 71-lap grand prix, with a 40 percent chance of heavy rain and thunderstorms hanging over race day. Interlagos has a long history of sudden downpours turning weekends upside down: qualifying for the 2024 Sao Paulo Grand Prix was postponed until Sunday morning because of heavy rain, before Max Verstappen won the race from 17th on the grid. The warning lands in the middle of a hectic build-up at the circuit. Charles Leclerc is arriving late after missing Thursday's media day following the birth of his daughter, while Lance Stroll is also sitting out media duties as he recovers from a viral infection picked up in Mexico. With the championship fight still live and rain in the forecast, the weekend could yet be decided as much by the skies over Sao Paulo as by anything on the track.