Qualifying for the Sao Paulo GP got here to an odd finish on Friday as Q3 was stopped attributable to an enormous storm at Interlagos; watch Dash Saturday on the Sao Paulo GP dwell on Sky Sports activities F1, with the Dash Shootout at 2pm and the Dash itself at 6.30pm
Final Up to date: 03/11/23 9:29pm
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Fernando Alonso feedback on the storm that rolled in inflicting a early end to qualifying of the Sao Paulo GP
Fernando Alonso feedback on the storm that rolled in inflicting a early end to qualifying of the Sao Paulo GP
Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc had been each astonished by the sudden storm that arrived on the finish of qualifying for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Verstappen and Leclerc had been two of the primary drivers to set a lap in Q3 and benefitted from their observe place because the rain approached Interlagos.
Lance Stroll certified third in entrance of Aston Martin team-mate Fernando Alonso earlier than qualifying was stopped with six minutes remaining as a result of climate. Alonso remarked “it is night time” when the storm hit.
A grandstand roof collapsed on the final nook as a result of climate and lightning surrounded the realm within the minutes after qualifying.
Verstappen, who took his eleventh pole place of the 2023 season, described the climate as “insane”.
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Craig Slater wraps up qualifying for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix
“We lined as much as exit for Q3 and you could possibly see the sky was simply black. I used to be like ‘wow. If that rain hits, it should be lots’,” defined Verstappen.
“The out lap was fairly fast. The primary sector felt alright and the remainder of the lap felt stunning. The rain was coming in, not hitting the observe but however the wind elevated lots and it modified course to a tail wind within the center sector and the automobile was sliding in all places.
“I used to be shouting on the radio, ‘what the hell occurred, we’re nowhere’. The staff advised me to maintain pushing as a result of everybody was struggling.
“I’ve by no means skilled one thing like that which had such an enormous affect on automobile stability however might additionally see the climate coming was fairly excessive.”
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Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc mirrored on the strangest session of his profession after a darkish cloud red-flagged Q3 on the Sao Paulo GP
Leclerc: Strangest session of my profession
There was a queue on the finish of the pit lane because the groups anticipated the incoming rain, which Interlagos and F1 has an extended historical past with.
Leclerc thought he was going to be final in Q3 attributable to how a lot he was struggling however certified on the entrance row, 0.294s behind Verstappen.
“That was most likely the strangest session of my profession, particularly the final run. We had the rain coming, the wind modified fully, and there was no rain round however the grip modified fully,” he mentioned.
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Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton mirrored on a tough qualifying session on a darkish and moist Autódromo José Carlos Tempo circuit
“It was extraordinarily tough. We simply needed to guess the place the grip was. I did a very good lap, so I am completely happy though it is very, very tough in these circumstances. I am pleased with second place, it is a good place to struggle for Sunday.”
George Russell, who certified sixth added, “That is completely loopy. I’ve by no means ever seen a change of climate so drastically as that. Simply fixed lightning.”
When to look at the Sao Paulo GP dwell solely on Sky Sports activities F1
Saturday November 4
- 1.30pm: Dash Shootout build-up
- 2pm: Sao Paulo GP Dash Shootout
- 5.30pm: Dash build-up
- 6.30pm: SAO PAULO SPRINT
- 8pm: Ted’s Dash Pocket book
Sunday November 5
- 3.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Sao Paulo GP build-up
- 5pm: THE SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX
- 7pm: Chequered Flag: Sao Paulo GP response
- 8pm: Ted’s Pocket book
F1 is in Brazil for the ultimate leg of the Americas triple header and the final Dash weekend of the 2023 season. Watch each session from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix dwell on Sky Sports activities F1, with Sunday’s race at 5pm. Stream F1 on Sky Sports with NOW