SLIPPERY WHEN WET: Heavy rain halts Brazilian Grand Prix

SAO PAULO, Brazil (AFP) — A prolonged heavy rainstorm led to the postponement of qualifying at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Saturday as deteriorating conditions and poor light ended the day’s action at Interlagos.

The session has been delayed until Sunday morning, in the hope the weather improves, but forecasts have suggested that may not be a foregone conclusion.

Officials later said qualifying will take place on Sunday at 1030 GMT with the start of the race brought forward 90 minutes due to concerns over the weather and will get underway at 1530 GMT.

As night began to fall on Saturday, drivers waved to fans on the pit-wall — giving the big crowd who had waited for more than two hours in the rain — some reward for their patience.

Formula One boss Stefano Domenicali confirmed the postponement at 1950 GMT and praised the fans inside the circuit for their patience and support.

“First of all, the fans here are incredible,” he told F1TV.

“But unfortunately, we cannot control the weather and it is just not safe to drive. It’s as simple as that and problems too with the light make it worse so that’s it.”

“The plan now is to run in the morning and the final check will be made with a plan and details for the day.”

He added: “I have to say the fans here are unique and we thank them for waiting so long, but it is impossible to race today.”

The Safety Car was deployed to evaluate the conditions several times with marshals using brooms to clear deep pools of water around the circuit and in the paddock and pit lane.

After several inspections, it was announced the organizers hoped to begin the session at 1615 local (1915 GMT), but that proved to be impossible.

Many of the fans were Argentine supporters of Franco Colapinto of Williams who has made an impressive start to his F1 career this year as a mid-season deputy for American Logan Sargeant.

Mercedes driver George Russell said it “looks very wet out there but maybe some places are okay — other places there are big puddles.”

His teammate in seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton joked he wanted improved wet weather tires so he could go out in the rain, a suggestion laughed off by Domenicali.

“Lewis wants to race,” he said.

“But it is too dark for that.”

The expectation among paddock observers was that qualifying would begin at 0900 local time (1200 GMT) on Sunday when world champion and series leader Max Verstappen would start the race with a five-place grid penalty for taking a new engine, his sixth of the season.

Verstappen was penalized earlier on Saturday for an infringement of the Virtual Safety Car rules which cost him seconds and dropped him from third to fourth in the sprint race behind the triumphant McLarens of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri with Charles Leclerc promoted to third for Ferrari.

This result permitted Norris to trim the Dutchman’s lead in the title race by three points to 44 with four Grands Prix and one sprint race remaining this year.