Severe Weather Threatens Brazilian GP with Cyclone Warning

A severe weather alert has been issued for the Sao Paulo region, with a cyclone expected to hit, potentially disrupting Saturday's Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix sessions. The Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia has issued an orange alert, warning of up to 60mm of rain per hour and winds reaching 100 km/h.

Why it matters:

The potential for a cyclone and severe weather could significantly impact Saturday's Sprint and Qualifying sessions, jeopardizing crucial points and the starting grid for Sunday's main race. Interlagos is renowned for its unpredictable weather, but a cyclone poses an elevated risk to safety and competitive fairness, potentially forcing schedule changes or even the cancellation of sessions, which would invoke championship standings to set the grid.

The Details:

• The national meteorological service warns of heavy rain, 'intense winds,' hail, and the risk of power outages for Saturday's track action.
• Formula 1 has two scheduled sessions on Saturday: the Sprint at 11 am local time and the main Qualifying session for Sunday's race at 3 pm.
• Flexibility: Despite sunset being just before 6:30 pm, the schedule could be reworked. Qualifying has previously been moved to Sunday morning due to weather, as occurred last year.
• The FIA forecast predicts a 'rainy band' in the morning with a moderate to high chance of showers, possibly thundery, until 10:00. Chances of showers remain moderate thereafter, with strong northwesterly winds gusting up to 70 kph during the Sprint and 60 kph during Qualifying.
• The storm impacted Londrina in Northern Paraná on Friday night, with the city's airport reporting wind gusts of 93 km/h.
• Satellite imagery confirmed the storm's advance towards São Paulo from Friday night into Saturday morning.
• Sunday is currently forecast to be clear, making Saturday's Sprint — which awards up to eight points for the winner — the primary concern.

Between the lines:

Regulations allow for some flexibility in scheduling. If 12 or more of the 24 Sprint laps are completed, full points are awarded; otherwise, no points are given. There's a three-hour window between the Sprint and Qualifying, allowing for some delay. If Qualifying cannot be held, F1's sporting regulations state the grid will be defined based on the Drivers' Championship classification.

What's next:

Race organizers and the FIA will closely monitor conditions to determine if schedule adjustments are necessary. While Interlagos has a history of rain-affected races, this severe weather warning could lead to significant disruptions. Fans and teams will be watching for updates, hoping for a safe and fair day of racing, or contingency plans if conditions prove too extreme.