What will happen if Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying cannot go ahead due to rain delay
Here's what will happen if the Sao Paulo Grand Prix qualifying cannot go ahead amid heavy rain and lightning.
Qualifying at the Brazilian Grand Prix was postponed on Saturday due to heavy rain at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo.
A thunderstorm hit the circuit prior to the scheduled start time, with heavy rain thereafter.
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As a result, qualifying will now take place at 12pm UK time, but heavy rain is forecasted on Sunday, too.
The session, which sets the grid for Sunday's race, was pushed back on Saturday, with the FIA conducting regular checks of the track surface.
FIA race director Niels Wittich made the decision to postpone the session after persistent rainfall.
Sunday's grand prix is still set to start at 5pm UK time.
If qualifying cannot go ahead, then the result of the last free practice run could set the grid.
That would put Lando Norris in 1st place while Max Verstappen would start in 15th.
Norris set the pace in the only practice session in Brazil ahead of George Russell and Oliver Bearman, who replaced the unwell Kevin Magnussen for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The FIA also has the option to postpone qualifying until Sunday morning - as was the case at the 2019 Japanese Grand Prix when Typhoon Hagibis made landfall on qualifying day.
Check out the full order of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix practice below:
1. Norris 1m10.610s
2. Russell 1m10.791s
3. Bearman 1m10.805s
4. Piastri 1m10.950s
5. Albon 1m10.955s
6. Leclerc 1m11.038s
7. Sainz 1m11.100s
8. Hulkenberg 1m11.124s
9. Alonso 1m11.215s
10. Gasly 1m11.216s
11. Lawson 1m11.301s
12. Tsunoda 1m11.483s
13. Colapinto 1m11.619s
14. Bottas 1m11.651s
15. Verstappen 1m11.712s
16. Hamilton 1m11.754s
17. Stroll 1m11.783s
18. Ocon 1m11.827s
19. Perez 1m11.845s
20. Zhou 1m12.883s
In dry conditions, Norris had earlier won the sprint race in Brazil to cut the deficit to Verstappen in the world championship to 44 points.
Verstappen was hit with a post-race penalty for a Virtual Safety Car infringement, dropping him from third to fourth.
Topics: Formula 1
Nasir Jabbar