For the second year in a row at Interlagos, a drastic change in weather conditions at the beginning of Q3 presented F1 teams with a challenge – and an opportunity.
Unlike last year, Haas weren’t around to take advantage, both their drivers having been eliminated earlier. Instead Aston Martin took the greatest benefit from the sudden shift in the weather, reaping the reward of being the first on track before conditions took a turn for the worse.
As Q3 approached, teams could see from their weather radars that a major storm was heading to the area. While many were braced for the rain it brought, little of it fell during the decisive opening minutes of Q3. But plunging air temperatures and shifting, gusting winds left several drivers convinced their laps were so poor they weren’t worth completing. Their race engineers, watching the coming downpour on their monitors, knew otherwise, and urged them to take the chequered flag.
As they did, several discovered they had missed out by failing to get onto the track as early as they could, while others made the best they could of their starting positions.
Fernando Alonso
Position in queue: 1st Qualified: 4th, 1’11.387
Aston Martin were fully alert to the threat posed by the change in the weather and ensured bot drivers set lap times right away.
But Alonso would be justified in feeling disappointed in only taking fourth on the grid despite enjoying the best of the conditions. He lost a significant amount of time by running wide at Laranjinha.
Cronin
He queues at the pit exit Just 2 minutes 30 minutes.
Alonso
I switch off?
Cronin
Stand by.
Cronin
Yeah, we’re fine on engine temps Fernando, we’re fine.
Alonso
Rain update.
Cronin
We’ve had possible spits in turn 12 area. Radar is not very clear at the moment.
Cronin
It says 90 seconds until the start of the session.
Alonso
I don’t know why we kept the engine but okay.
Cronin
We’re all okay Fernando, we’re all okay. So there was some people overtaking in the pit exit but I’ll keep you updated as normal.
Cronin
30 seconds, 30 seconds.
Cronin
10 seconds, 10 seconds.
Cronin
Three, two, one. Okay.
Cronin
He leaves the pits Okay so Lance is behind possibly a little bit of rain ub turn 12. You’re all clear behind. Have some good braking. That’ll help build up the fronts.
Cronin
So front-right you can lean on a bit. And then lean on the tyres in turn six, seven.
Cronin
Okay so you’re all good. Have one more good brake. Front-right slightly on the cool side but the rest okay. Have a good brake and go one.
Cronin
And white button turn one, white button.
Cronin
He completes his lap Okay, So first pushing car Perez, turn seven.
Alonso
[Unclear]
Cronin
Copy, Fernando, copy. Perez is pushing five and a half behind. It’s just Perez who’s going to come through, he’s four behind. Have a fast in-lap. Perez still 3.5 seconds. You’re currently faster than Hamilton. Perez fast, one and a half behind.
Cronin
All clear behind, all clear.
Cronin
There’s a yellow flag exit of 12, Piastri’s off. Piastri’s moving now, it’s still single yellows.
Cronin
And box box. Keep an eye out for the weigh bridge. You’re currently P4.
Alonso
It’s so dark.
Cronin
Get ready for another set, but it is looking like it’s too wet. So just stop in front of the garage and push you in.
Lance Stroll took advantage of his team mate’s error to out-qualify him for only the third time in a grand prix this year.
Michell
Okay. Lance there’s other calls coming out, 2 minutes 25, we might need to turn the PU off so stand by. So, Lance, Fernando’s obviously first, you’re P2 in the queue. We must maintain these positions if the rain comes.
Michell
So engine off, Lance. Back to P2.
Stroll
Okay.
Michell
Okay so Lance we’ll be okay to fire up 40 seconds before the start, so we’ll give you that signal. So it’s critical we maintain this position on track so do your best in the pit exit. Don’t hold anybody up but don’t let them past you. And then we obviously need good braking into turn four, energy out of four, good work on the front tyres. 55 seconds.
Michell
I’m happy for you to fire the car up, fire up the car now.
Michell
It’s getting greyer, Lance, so this might be it. 25 seconds to go.
Michell
Okay, Lance, 15 seconds to go. We’re all happy with everything. Focus on your tyres. Get a good gap to Fernando. Don’t let anybody through. Focus on your tyres. 10 seconds.
Michell
Five seconds, five seconds.
Michell
And with the weather, it’s important we’re in the first group to start the lap, Lance, okay, so we’re in a good position.
Michell
Good braking Lance. So gap ahead four, make a gap. Hamilton [unclear]. So tyres are on the cold side so good braking, energy out of four, work on the brakes, work on the tyres. Lean in six and seven to build some bulk temp.
Michell
Okay you’re doing a good job, Lance. A bit more on the front, if we can. Fernando seven in front, Hamilton’s eight behind you. It’s just about getting this lap in. So gap ahead seven.
Michell
Gap ahead of you is six seconds. Good braking, a little bit more gap. Go one, gap ahead seven.
Michell
Perez starting a lap behind, don’t impede him, don’t impede him. Let Perez by. Out three, push the in lap. Fast in-lap now.
Michell
Target minus ten on the dash. Out three, out three, out three.
Michell
Yellow flag Piastri turn 12. He’s moving, but yellow flag.
Michell
There is no weighbridge, Lance, so come straight back in. Straight back in. We’re expecting rain.
Michell
Okay Lance slippery track declared, it’s going to get heavy rain now. So we’re going to get the car turned around, but thinking we’re not going out. It is raining now.
Michell
You’re P3 at the moment so we’re standing by.
Lewis Hamilton
Position in queue: 3rd Qualified: 5th, 1’11.469
Although they secured some of the better starting positions at the pit exit, Mercedes seemed unaware that the conditions were about to deteriorate as swiftly as they did.
But getting a favourable spot at the pit lane exit was a double-edged sword for this team, as the W14 tends not to heat its tyres up as well as rival cars, and the drop in temperatures they experienced while waiting for the session to begin compromised both drivers. Hamilton delivered a clean lap but said afterwards he felt they could have qualified better had the conditions been more normal.
Bonnington
So we will be queueing. Two minutes and 20 until green light. There is threat of rain.
Hamilton
So I just saw the delta just changed, is that not where I need to improve?
Bonnington
I think that was just moving the reference. So we can switch the PU off.
Hamilton
Give me that feedback piece, Mike. I don’t really understand is it the first up to turn six and down or after that?
Unknown
So Lewis there’s time to find turn four, a few tenths, and then George at eight-nine so looking at a compromise of eight, focused on the exit of nine, min. speed.
Bonnington
Switch car to P2.
Bonnington
Wait for fire-up.
Bonnington
30 seconds to green light.
Hamilton
Am I going to need a bigger gap ahead or not?
Bonnington
No, I don’t think so. You had about five or 6 seconds last time.
Bonnington
And 15.
Hamilton
Is that the gap I want
Bonnington
Yeah copy that’s good. 10 seconds.
Bonnington
So maybe rain on the radar. Well actually rain falling now. A couple of jackets have gone on.
Bonnington
We just need to get a lap on soft. So it’s possible rain. You’ve got a two ahead. Verstappen may be pushing through. You’ve got thee seconds ahead, three seconds ahead, now four, four and a half. Five ahead to Stroll.
Bonnington
Just stay on that delta
Bonnington
Good gaps, we can push through 11. Then it will be strat two, good to go.
Hamilton
Got no grip on these tyres, man.
Bonnington
So we’ll box, box. Wait for other cars to complete their laps.
Hamilton
No grip. Tyres not ready or what?
Bonnington
We were waiting down the end of the pit lane so that’s probably hurts us, but it will hurt everyone else. rain in the pit lane
Hamilton
What position are we currently?
Bonnington
Just waiting for cars to finish. Currently P5. So let’s hurry up, get back.
Bonnington
Yellow exit turn 12 Piastri may have I just dragged some crap onto the track. Got rain in the pit lane.
Hamilton
It’s wet on a bunch of corners. Damp.
Bonnington
Okay copy. Box, box.
Bonnington
Stop on the marks, we’ll pull you back in the garage.
Red Bull had the least advantageous garage position for getting a place at the end of the pit lane. Nonetheless Max Verstappen lined up fifth in the queue, then immediately passed George Russell to join the track in fourth, while also complaining Hamilton got in his way as they joined the track.
Like many drivers he was concerned by how poor the grip was on his lap – but despite that he set the quickest time.
Lambiase
That’s two minutes 15, Max. And if we switch off, P1 and then P2 please. Pitlane speed limiter off as well as please Max.
Lambiase
And that’s one minute Max, one minute. And we can fire up. Pit lane speed limiter on.
Lambiase
30 seconds. So the rain is incoming, Max, likely to end of Q3.
Verstappen
He’s already making the gap before the lights.
Lambiase
Understood, thank you.
Verstappen
I’m getting blocked.
Lambiase
Increase gap. Okay, good to go.
Lambiase
So eyes on dash, Max. Push the out-lap.
Lambiase
Hamilton through 11.
Verstappen
(Almost simultaneously) Update on the gap?
Lambiase
Hamilton turn 12 and he’s gone. Let’s go. Recharge on and recharge off when you’re ready.
Verstappen
Ah, zero fucking grip, on this tyre. What the fuck.
Lambiase
Similar comments around the drivers, Max. Keep pushing to the end please.
Lambiase
Currently P1.
Verstappen
Shocking.
Lambiase
P2 is an 11.3 at the moment. Hamilton was an 11.4. Russell 11.6. Leclerc 11.0. Norris 11.9. So we’ve got yellows turn 12.
Russell was so unhappy with his lap he told his team he wanted to abort it and fit fresh tyres. But race engineer Ricardo Musconi urged him to take the chequered flag, which was the right call, as he secured a sixth place which was better than he expected.
Musconi
So just over two minutes to green light.
Russell
Do I keep it running. We’ll switch off. P1.
Musconi
90 seconds. 45 seconds. 30 seconds.
Musconi
So we keep to the left.
Musconi
(Verstappen passes) So rain is inbound. Will hit turn one first.
Russell
Gap ahead.
Musconi
Got four seconds ahead. Just be careful of people behind trying to push through. Four seconds ahead. So just get these, focus on getting these tyres in the window. That rain threat is real.
Musconi
So gap ahead four seconds, let’s go. Gap six seconds. Gap seven seconds. Gap now, five… six seconds. So gap seven seconds. We’ll be strat two, good to go.
Russell
At Juncao
Box for a new set now.
Musconi
Keep pushing, keep pushing. Need to complete this lap.
Russell
Yeah got nothing from the tyres mate, nothing.
Musconi
So strat one, box box, clear behind.
Russell
Got absolutely nothing from the tyres. Exactly the same as last week.
Musconi
I know mate but if the rain hits we need the time on the board.
Russell
Yeah.
Musconi
Keep the pace up on the way in.
Russell
It’s already here. Fuck’s sake guys, sorry.
Musconi
So we got a yellow flag turn 12, Piastri. He is moving. He’s been through the grass. Clear behind.
Musconi
So just try and avoid low brake pressures. No brake split at the moment. Just keep on top of those.
Russell
I don’t see any rain on the visor at the moment, but I’m sliding all over the place.
Musconi
Yeah affirm, lot of people putting on rain jackets in the pit lane. We’ll box box. The wind has definitely picked up a lot here in the pits. And we’ve got a report slippery track turn three. So. box box look for Rich stopping long.
Russell
Where are we? What position?
Musconi
Currently P6.
Russell
Surprising. That was awful.
Musconi
Everyone was struggling out there mate. Everyone was struggling.
Russell
I can’t see shit in the pit lane now, it’s so dark. Wow.
Musconi
It is.
Russell
What was the quickest lap? Let’s get this turned around ASAP.
Musconi
Verstappen 10.7 and then Leclerc second.
Charles Leclerc
Position in queue: 6th Qualified: 2nd, 1’11.021
Charles Leclerc lost out badly in Q3 last year, joining the track on intermediate tyres before the rain hit. Before leaving the garage he urged his team to get him to the pit exit as soon as possible. He only lined up sixth in the queue but delivered a strong lap to take second on the grid.
Leclerc
Cannot we wait at the end of the pit lane to be the first one
Leclerc
He queues at the pit exit
Rain expected when
Marcos Padros
Seven minutes into the session.
Marcos Padros
Okay. And 30 seconds. Okay. So it will be spots seven minutes into the session and heavy rain eight to nine minutes into the session. And we’ll need to cool down the engine whenever you can.
Marcos Padros
Gap to Russell three seconds now. Five seconds and try to cool down the engine on the straight, if you can. No one pushing behind. Gap to Russell, eight. And rain expected in around four minutes. Russell seven-and-a-half. No one pushing behind. And it will be mode push for last corner. Mode push.
Leclerc
I really don’t know what happened on this set.
Marcos Padros
So it’s the same for everyone at the moment. So as a reference you are P2 now. Verstappen P1. Versatppen 10.7. And radio off please.
Leclerc
Boy this is the strangest thing ever.
Marcos Padros
And charge button on and cool the engine please. And box this lap.
Leclerc
Box. I… okay. I mean I’ve already said it but I think in my whole career I have never experienced that. It felt like it was raining but there’s no rain around. This is super weird.
Marcos Padros
Copy.
Leclerc
And I think that’s it for today. Woah. Yeah, that’s it
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella admitted after qualifying they squandered an opportunity by failing to get their cars onto the track sooner. As the session began the FIA weather forecast updated to show rain would arrive within minutes, yet they remained convinced it wouldn’t arrive until the end of the session, which led to their strategic error. Afterwards Lando Norris admitted this had been another missed opportunity to take pole position.
Lopez Garcia
I think we are seventh in the queue, Lando. So we can switch the car off. And that’s still two minutes to open the pit lane.
Norris
Are you happy with A4 everywhere?
Unknown
Yeah. Lando I’m happy with that.
Norris
Cool.
Lopez Garcia
And that’s 30 seconds to go, you can fire up. And the drops of rain seem to be stopping.
Lopez Garcia
And that’s the start of the session. You are seventh car in the queue. Alonso in turn nine. And you won’t be held up at the end. And weather update for you: We are even more sure that the rain will hit towards the end of qualifying. Slippery in turn 12.
Norris
Should I just box?
Lopez Garcia
Complete the lap, complete the lap.
Norris
Yeah, rain. A lot of rain turn one.
Lopez Garcia
Understood.
Lopez Garcia
Rain is getting heavier Lando so be careful on your way back.
Norris
Yeah I know.
Lopez Garcia
Okay, let’s stay on the delta, on the delta, not faster.
Norris
Yeah I’m trying mate, it’s fucking raining.
Lopez Garcia
Yeah understood.
Norris
I’ll just jump out then.
Lopez Garcia
Ah, stay in for the moment. But I know what you mean.
Carlos Sainz Jnr was another driver who appeared ready to abandon his lap, but was urged to press on by his race engineer.
Adami
And if you can cool the car down a bit to the streets without the.
Sainz
Am I the last car?
Adami
Leclerc is actually sixth in the queue, Sainz eighth
Seven and eight, we were. Piastri and Checo are in the pits. Try to get some speed and cool it down, it’s important.
Sainz
Yeah but the tyres also.
Adami
Piastri behind, watch for Piastri behind. He’s slowing down, Piastri slowing down. Alonso on the main straight, exiting last corner. And Lando five in front.
Adami
Try to prepare your tyres as much as you can. Rain is expected in three minutes. Lando six in front, Piastri seven behind.
Sainz
Shit lap.
Adami
Keep going. Keep going.
Sainz
I have zero grip.
Adami
Yeah the wind changed 180 degrees. It’s a big storm.
Sainz
I had rain in the last [unclear].
Oscar Piastri
Position in queue: 9th Qualified: 10th, No time
Oscar Piastri did not queue at the pit lane exit. Instead McLaren sent him out as the session began, which would have allowed him to keep his tyres warmer, but left him facing most challenging conditions. They caught him out at Juncao, where he spun, ruining his lap.
Stallard
Okay. So car ahead of you is Sainz. Perez has followed you out. Manage your gap.
Stallard
All our weather spotters report rain has stopped.
Stallard
First car is a Alonso, 10 seconds.
Stallard
Wind is very light. Direction shifted slightly. You might catch a headwind out of turn four. Alonso, five. Sainz opening a lap now eight seconds ahead. Alonso two.
Stallard
(Piastri goes off). Okay. Oscar, are you able to bring the car back?
Piastri
Yes.
Stallard
So we’re box this lap. Cars behind are in phase. Recharge on. Stop in front of the garage.
Piastri
Oscar pit lane.
Stallard
Top right toggle.
Stallard
So preparing the call, but looking at the colour of the sky… so Perez has done a 12.3. But I think that will be difficult given what I believe the conditions are like now.
Piastri
But is it actually raining? Because I didn’t think it was raining.
While Verstappen made it out of the pits fifth, his team mate Sergio Perez as last in the queue, a position which was always going to disadvantage him. When Piastri spun in front of him, bringing out the yellow flags, it doomed him to no better than ninth on the grid. He had been on course for third place until then, which under the circumstances would have been a major triumph.
Bird
B-bal three. B-bal three. So Sainz going slow at SC2, backing up here. Make sure you’ve got that gap. No threats behind here.
Bird
Fernando at turn one.
Bird
Okay Fernando four seconds back. Fernando one second, coming through. The next car is Stroll, five seconds. Stroll at four seconds. So B-bal three, we’re good. Piastri’s gone. Recharge off when you’re ready. Stroll coming.
Bird
Yellows ahead, yellows.
Bird
Complete the lap, complete the lap. Okay, Delta on, delta on.
Perez
Ah, fuck’s sake, man. It is now fucking raining.
Bird
So keep the pace up, keep the pace up. Best chance to go again. So everyone’s finding it tricky out there. 10.7 for Max. 11.0 Leclerc P2.
Bird
Checo it is picking up. Okay. In to Matt and switch off.
AlexS
4th November 2023, 13:19
Great transcript, thanks.
Bob C.
4th November 2023, 13:52
So, in other words: hold them up anyway?