Thunderstorm and torrential rain threaten São Paulo qualifying

A sudden storm has transformed the weather picture at Interlagos, with torrential rain arriving after a dry final practice session ahead of the São Paulo Grand Prix qualifying hour.

The forecast had pointed to the possibility of Saturday rain, but conditions changed sharply as FP3 ended. Max Verstappen had topped the session ahead of Kimi Antonelli before clouds gathered and the weather began to deteriorate.

Thunder and heavy rain arrive after FP3

At 13:15 local time, 45 minutes after final practice finished, thunder and lightning were reported in the region. A torrential downpour followed, prompting the FIA to allow teams to close their garage doors.

The change brings a stark contrast to the dry running in FP3. With qualifying still to come, teams and drivers must prepare for conditions that have shifted quickly since the session ended. The earlier forecast had already raised the prospect of rain on Saturday, and the latest downpour has made the threat immediate.

The temperature has also fallen significantly since the start of FP3. Air temperature was around 22°C after the drop, adding another challenge for drivers as they prepare to qualify.

Qualifying now faces a changed weather picture

Interlagos is no stranger to saturated conditions during a Formula 1 visit, and the latest storm puts the focus on what the weather will bring when qualifying gets underway. The dry final practice offered teams one set of conditions; the heavy rain and lower temperatures have since altered the picture.

The source gives no further detail on how long the downpour will last, leaving the conditions at the start of qualifying uncertain. Teams will have to respond to the weather as it develops, while drivers face the added challenge of adapting to the colder conditions.

Follow the session with our São Paulo Grand Prix live timing, and check the Brazil time schedule for the weekend’s running.