Motor racing-Sao Paulo qualifying delayed as heavy rain hits Interlagos

Qualifying ​for Formula One's Sao ​Paulo Grand Prix ‌was delayed ​on Saturday after heavy rain swept across Interlagos, the latest ‌weather disruption at a circuit renowned for dramatic wet races and qualifying sessions. Rain began falling shortly after ‌the end of the third and final practice ‌session and intensified in the minutes before qualifying was due to start at 3 p.m. local time. Drivers initially ⁠left the ​pitlane as ⁠scheduled, but a red flag was brought out two minutes ⁠later as conditions deteriorated.

As soon as he joined the ​track, newly crowned world champion Kimi Antonelli told ⁠his Mercedes team over the radio that he was "already ⁠aquaplaning". ​Safety car driver Bernd Maylander carried out assessments of the circuit. "It's very simple to say ⁠it's not drivable, it's too dangerous," Maylander told Sky TV. "A ⁠lot ⁠of standing water, even on the straights, that creates high-speed aquaplaning."