Interlagos, the venue for the Brazilian GP, was hit by heavy rain that disrupted Saturday's programme: qualifying, initially scheduled for early afternoon, was postponed several times in the hope of a break from the bad weather. However, the rain showed no signs of stopping and the FIA has decided to postpone any decision on qualifying until tomorrow.
This unexpected change of program could have major repercussions on the entire weekend. The teams, who had already faced the pitfalls of the resurfaced track during the Sprint Qualifying and the Sprint Race, will have to adapt their strategies to a Sunday that looks set to be eventful and potentially still characterised by uncertain weather.
McLaren's Sprint Domination and Verstappen's Penalty
Yesterday saw McLaren shine in Sprint Qualifying, with Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris taking the front row and then finishing the Sprint with a one-two, thanks to a team strategy that rewarded Norris with victory. This result further cemented McLaren’s place as the dominant force of the Brazilian weekend, leaving Ferrari and Red Bull to play catch-up.
However, the twist came with the penalty inflicted on Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver was demoted to fourth place for a violation of the Virtual Safety Car regulations. Third place thus passed into the hands of Charles Leclerc, who took advantage of Verstappen's penalty to bring home precious points for Ferrari. This sanction is in addition to the five-place demotion that Verstappen will have to serve on the grid for Sunday's GP for his engine change.
A crucial weekend for Ferrari and McLaren in the fight for the Constructors' title
With the constructors' championship getting tighter, the battle between McLaren and Ferrari is intensifying. McLaren currently leads with 581 points, followed by Ferrari with 547. Every point gained in the Brazilian weekend brings one of the two teams closer to the title, making every session and every lap decisive. Today's rain delayed the action on track, but it certainly added tension and uncertainty.
A busy Sunday: qualifying and race on the same day?
The postponement of qualifying will lead to a Sunday with a very high adrenaline rate, with the teams having to tackle qualifying and the main race in a single day if they do not decide to rely on the sessions already held to decide the starting order of the GP. This could increase the pressure on the drivers and engineers, called upon to make quick decisions and find the right balance between aggression and conservation. If the weather conditions remain uncertain, tyre strategies and pace management will be crucial to avoid mistakes and maximise the result.
The Brazilian rain has therefore messed up the plans, but has also prepared the ground for a final day that promises to be a spectacle. Will McLaren be able to confirm the supremacy shown in the Sprint? And will Ferrari be able to close the gap in the standings? Tomorrow, all the answers on the Interlagos circuit.
