This session has finished. No further updates will be posted.
Qualifying for the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix is coming up next
The start of qualifying has been delayed due to rain at the track. Next update at 3pm.
Qualifying has been further delayed, another update is due at 3:30pm.
Race control says the estimated starting time for qualifying is 4pm.
The estimated starting time of qualifying has been pushed back to 4:15pm local time.
Rain is still falling at the track, the prospects of getting the session started on that projected time do not look good. More concerningly, the forecast for tomorrow is dire as well.
A further delay to the projected start time. Race control now say they expect to begin at 4:30pm local time.
Qualifying normally takes one hour if there are no interruptions. So if they start on time at 4:30pm and there are no red flags they can finish the session before sunset at 6:21pm. That is a big ‘if’, however.
The estimated start time of qualifying has been delayed to 4:45pm.
Another delay to the starting time, it’s now 5pm.
The start of qualifying has been postponed. More information here.
So we have no qualifying session today. Our live coverage will resume tomorrow when qualifying is rescheduled.
It’s 7am at Interlagos and the delayed qualifying session for the Brazilian Grand Prix is due to begin in half an hour.
It’s still wet at the circuit but the prospects of the session going ahead look better than yesterday. Here’s a clarification on what would happen if qualifying has to be cancelled.
“Better” is very much a relative term, however. The Safety Car is out on the track and there’s clearly a lot of standing water around.
Encouragingly we are 10 minutes away from the start of the qualifying session
We have seen the grid decided without all of qualifying taking place in the past, such as at COTA in 2015 when Q3 was cancelled. Therefore it’s possible Q1 or Q2 could end up setting the grid.
Drivers are already queuing to leave the pits. Oscar Piastri is told all the drivers are on full wet weather tyres.
The session has begun and the drivers are joining the track. DRS is, of course, disabled.
Yellow flags for Liam Lawson who spun at the exit of Juncao. He gets going again. Verstappen: “I can’t see anything.”
Esteban Ocon goes quickest with a 1’30.096, one-and-a-half seconds up on Lando Norris in second.
Zhou Guanyu is the next driver to go off at turn 12 and rejoin. Russell: “How are they going off? Just locking up I guess?” Dudley: “Going straight on.”
Verstappen is accusing Norris of holding him up.
Bottas has opted for intermediates but Ferrari believe the rain is about to get heavier.
It may be too soon for intermediates. Bottas slides off at Subida do Lago. Meanwhile Hamilton goes off at the Senna S.
Russell: “Tyres just not working. There doesn’t seem to be that much standing water so think about intermediates.”
Red flag: Colapinto has gone off at the Senna S.
This will be a disaster for Mercedes if the drivers aren’t able to improve when the session improves as both their drivers are in the drop zone. The Sauber pair are too along with, ironically, Colapinto’s team mate Alexander Albon.
The plight of the Mercedes drivers potentially has implications for the championship as well. Norris would have liked to see Verstappen’s coming five-place grid penalty drop him behind a couple of W15s, but if they can’t approve that time they’re set to start a long way down.
Russell shouting: “Dan, forget it, forget it, Dan!” as he leaves the garage.
Piastri doubts they’ll be able to improve as the conditions are at the moment: “It’s pissing down.”
The session resumes. Bearman, who is on intermediates, has pulled over at the pit exit and the Haas crew are pushing him back into their garage.
Many drivers have taken fresh sets of wet weather tyres including the McLaren drivers but not Verstappen who is still on his original set. Saving fresh wet weather rubber could prove valuable later on.
Five minutes to go. Drivers are improving their sector times. Piastri, contrary to his expectations, goes up to fifth.
Norris has slipped to 13th place and is a full second down in the first sector, so it’s looking risky for him.
Verstappen 11th, Norris 14th, both could really do with improving their times. Hamilton has a brief off and is languishing in 17th.
Norris does his personal best middle sector and goes 14th, but is immediately relegated to 15th.
Zhou could have eliminated Norris there but fell short. A huge scare for McLaren there.
Hamilton is eliminated along with both Haas drivers, Zhou plus Colapinto who crashed.
Q2 is go and the drivers are filtering out. Norris appears to be on his original set of wet weather tyres from Q1, Verstappen has taken a fresh set.
Carlos Sainz Jnr sets the initial pace with a 1’29.406, Charles Leclerc pips it by less than a tenth of a second – then Russell splits them.
Fernando Alonso has a brief spell at the top before Sergio Perez does a 1’28.158 to go quickest.
Norris only tenth with that run, Verstappen goes quickest on his fresh rubber, 1’27.771. Norris is now calling for intermediates.
Piastri is on intermediates already and going quickest of all in the first sector, so the pits are about to get very busy.
Piastri goes fastest by six-tenths of a second. Russell has spun at Bico de Pato on his intermediates but gets going again.
The intermediates working beautifully for Piastri who now enjoys a two-and-a-half second margin at the top of the times.
Sainz has crashed – and Norris is in the drop zone. Red flag.
Sainz went off at the Senna S, he’s gone in quite heavily at the back.
If the drivers are unable to improve their times once the session resumes, Norris, Gasly, Albon, Tsunoda and Ocon will be eliminated.
Norris will be in serious trouble here if the session doesn’t restart before the conditions improve. McLaren will need to get him to the pit exit as soon as possible before the session improves – and he can expect to encounter Verstappen either on his way out or when he comes around to start his flying lap.
The session will restart in just under three minutes time.
Perez saying they should have stayed in the garage.
Q2 has restarted. Norris is eight tenths of a second slower than Piastri in the first sector, but on course to improve his time.
Relief again for Norris as he goes third. Tsunoda also escapes the drop zone in fourth. Leclerc now into the bottom five.
Verstappen had to abandon a lap there as Ocon came past him at the finishing line. Lambiase says they’ve lost GPS signal.
Verstappen has fallen into the drop zone and there’s a red flag!
Huge drama at the end of Q2. Verstappen is out and so is his team mate Sergio Perez. Valtteri Bottas, Gasly and Sainz fall too.
Q3 will start in three minutes. The drivers are already queueing up, not least because there’s more rain coming.
Piastri: “I think if it keeps raining like this we should just stay out.”
Piastri puts up a 1’26.099 but Norris beats that by four tenths of a second to go fastest. Ocon third for Alpine.
Another crash! Fernando Alonso is in the wall at Mergulho. That’s both Aston Martins in this session. Red flag again.
The session will restart yet again in two minutes’ time. Norris fastest so far ahead of, remarkably, Albon and Piastri. Ocon fourth, so as things stand we have an unusual grid shaping up.
Albon says the track feels drier than before.
Piastri goes off at the Senna S, then Tsunoda at Descida do Lago – and now Albon! Huge crash for the Williams driver at the Senna S. He’s moving in the car.
Red flag again for the fifth crash of the day. There is still three-and-a-half minutes of time left on clock so in theory the session could resume.
Albon: “Did the brakes fail?” He’s told it looks like they did not.
Verstappen is very unhappy after his elimination in Q2. Here’s what he had to say.
Two damaged cars each for Aston Martin and Williams. Official race start time is three-and-half hours away, so there’s a serious chance some teams will be unable to repair their cars in time.
“We think there will be some class one rain starting,” Joseph advises Norris, before reminding him to be very careful given the conditions.
Ocon locks up but goes fastest of all in the middle sector and ends up fourth quickest. Norris improves his best time to a 1’24.092.
Piastri locks up and goes off at the Senna S which may spoiled the start of Leclerc’s lap.
A stunning lap by Lawson! He goes second, then Tsunoda pips it and almost beats Norris.
Norris improves to a 1’23.405 but will anyone beat that?
Russell grabs second for Mercedes, Leclerc only sixth.
Tsunoda has been noted for crossing the line at the pit lane entrance.
Here’s the grid for the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix.
No further action against Tsunoda.
What a dramatic qualifying session. And the race is just three hours away! That concludes our coverage, read our report here
2024 Brazilian Grand Prix
- “I didn’t really want to come back” – Hamilton explains cryptic Brazil radio message
- Ocon’s role in Gasly’s Q2 exit was almost another ‘flare-up’ at Alpine – Oakes
- Interlagos must improve “very bad” new track surface for 2025, say F1 drivers
- “That’s how we silence them”: Verstappen’s stunning Brazil win from start to finish
- Verstappen now has as many wins as F1’s first six world champions combined
Ivan B (@njoydesign)
2nd November 2024, 19:55
really, so they canceled it in the end? Come on, made all the fans wait for so long in the grand stands…. what a waste of time. And really, from what a see on the feed, a few laps on full wets and it would be time for inters…
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
3rd November 2024, 1:25
Really embarrassing, they had a q1 in full wet conditions not so long ago, in canada 2022…
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
3rd November 2024, 10:37
its better for the tv ratings if Max starts from the back guys. Sorry to burst your bubbles.
Mayrton
3rd November 2024, 11:55
Well they made it happen. Waited until Norris finished his lap before bringing out the Red Flag. What a totally transparent competition distortion. FIA heavily biased again after yesterdays VSC farce. It is 100% clear McLaren is hugely favoured. ’21 vibes all over again.
Davethechicken
3rd November 2024, 12:22
You don’t seem to realise Lando was safe for Q3 if there was an immediate red flag at 7th.
So your conspiracy theory is clearly incorrect.
Either way Max was out and Lando through.
An Sionnach
3rd November 2024, 10:43
Interesting. Lando and Max may be taking it easy. Good.
Riccard
3rd November 2024, 10:58
I was rooting for Norris so hard in that final lap. Glad he’s kept the tenuous championship contest on life support! It would have been gutting for it to peter out in Q1.
Riccard
3rd November 2024, 10:59
Engineer’s message telling him he made it through sounded stunned/relieved/exhausted more than happy
An Sionnach
3rd November 2024, 11:02
A bit too close. Not sure where they need to qualify to keep the championship alive. Expecting Max to drop a lot of points in the next races, but if he gets a bag full of points today, it might kill it off. Hopefully both of them are in the race. A crash for anyone and they could be out.
Ben
3rd November 2024, 11:01
Wow, Hamilton is completely washed. I wish he’d retire, this is honestly sad to see.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
3rd November 2024, 11:19
Its pretty clear HAM has a handicapped car and no support on setup. And they use the notion of ‘test’ to politely say they are not supporting him anymore.
Riccard
3rd November 2024, 11:21
He just didn’t put a lap together, that’s all. Conditions were tough, and he only had 3 chances to make it work.
Ben
3rd November 2024, 11:22
Or he’s washed and can no longer keep pace with the younger drivers.
I used to say he was easily top5 of all time but my opinion of him is changing fast. It’s clear it was the car all along and a slow team mate.
As I said, it’s sad to see. Leclerc will demolish him next season.
pcxmac (@pcxmac)
3rd November 2024, 11:36
and last race when his pace was easily 3/4 of a second greater than his teammate, and he still couldn’t get in front on the straights until his final push when he managed to drain his teammate’s battery, and finally overtake him, only on the brakes. Yeah, cut me some cheese, i have been watching HAM suffer from a clear straightline deficit to his teammate for more than a year, its clear MERC are screwing him, and his race engineer is already retired to his desk job that Toto has promised him.
Merc are a wash for HAM, have been since 21, and the show wanted a new champion. Now Max is starting to see it come to bite him, as the show demands a season closing thriller. It is what it is, show business.
BLS (@brightlampshade)
3rd November 2024, 11:38
Can add Sainz and Verstappen to this washed list now.
Not a bad list tbh, I’d be happy with any of those in my team!
BLS (@brightlampshade)
3rd November 2024, 12:14
+ Alonso
Cracking list!
RomTrain (@romtrain)
3rd November 2024, 11:33
oh, max is also washed now. lets hope he retires…
Riccard
3rd November 2024, 11:15
I wonder what the forecast is like… when the red flag is over, will the track be drier, or is another shower on the horizon?
Norris in 11th
Riccard
3rd November 2024, 11:19
Red Bull on radio to Perez saying they think track will keep speeding up throughout the session. If they’re right, it’s a clean slate.
McLaren think they have 4 clear minutes.
Riccard
3rd November 2024, 11:26
Verstappen out of qualifying! Yellow flagged at start of his lap, but stewards held off on red flag to let everyone else finish theirs
Result — pushed into 12th
With penalty — 17th — no better than Sainz, Colapinto, Stroll; behind Hamilton.
Massive chance for McLaren.
t1redmonkey (@t1redmonkey)
3rd November 2024, 11:26
Stroll getting an xmas card from Lando for sure, lol
PeteB (@peteb)
3rd November 2024, 11:27
The FIA really can’t help themselves can they?
Tom
3rd November 2024, 11:27
Another handy tining for a red flag.
Tom
3rd November 2024, 11:28
Timing*
Riccard
3rd November 2024, 11:32
The stewards do have a duty to the spectators to let them see racing where it’s safe. Tens of thousands of people are sitting in the stands watching. The crash was turn three: cars already past that did not need to be stopped mid-lap.
Tom
3rd November 2024, 11:50
I think it’s fair that they should do that, but the other cars that were compromised by the yellow and still trying to do a lap should be afforded the same benefit?
Steve (@duuxdeluxe)
3rd November 2024, 11:29
So this time they wait until Norris has improved before they throw the red flag. What a farce this season has become, they really want a Brit to win don’t they?
Tom
3rd November 2024, 11:32
I hope the FIA are playing games. They made a mockery of the rules in 21 and Verstappen fans were insufferable calling those with legitimate complaints names.
Now the shoe is on the other foot and I’ve never been happier to see it! Steal his title FIA hand it to Norris on a plate and let’s see how they respond.
PeteB (@peteb)
3rd November 2024, 11:36
So what you’re saying is your complaints about 2021 were purely because your driver didn’t benefit from it?
Personally I didn’t like it because it’s artificial – didn’t like it in 21 and don’t like it now…
Ray West (@raynaud2211)
3rd November 2024, 11:37
If Norris wins the championship he is the worst in history since he needs the help of the FIA. And 21 is almost 3 year ago, move on.
Riccard
3rd November 2024, 11:47
The race director’s decision let 12 of 14 drivers complete racing laps, safely, in equal conditions… and lets the spectators watch them doing it in a moment of high drama.
It’s a shame for the other 2 of 14 who lucked out, but for my money, if you can let people go racing safely and within the rules, the race director should let that happen.
Not “help”, just enabling racing.
I have massive respect for Verstappen’s desire to drive fast and performance this year. I enjoy seeing him race and think he’s been the class act this year, and I know this was unlucky for him… but when in doubt, I watch F1 for the racing, and that’s what we just saw happen.
PeteB (@peteb)
3rd November 2024, 11:50
If they could allow cars to carry on racing, why did they suddenly have to stop them? Did it get more dangerous all of a sudden?
BLS (@brightlampshade)
3rd November 2024, 11:53
@peteb – Probably because times get deleted if you pass a double yellow so there’s no point carrying on until the crashed car is removed
PeteB (@peteb)
3rd November 2024, 12:10
Was Alonso’s car in a more dangerous position that they decided an immediate red flag was required and no-one could finish their lap?
BLS (@brightlampshade)
3rd November 2024, 12:12
Alonso crashed at the end of the lap, there was essentially no-one in front of him who could have a lap completed without being deleted
Davethechicken
3rd November 2024, 11:53
Maybe rewind and watch again Steve. Norris was safe for Q3 before Stroll crashed. He was 7th. An immediate red flag and the result is the same for Max and Lando, so I don’t understand your anti-British comment.
Patrick (@anunaki)
3rd November 2024, 11:33
Convenient timing again to make the championship more exciting.
Davethechicken
3rd November 2024, 11:49
How? Lando was already safely into Q3 before Stroll crashed. I don’t understand your logic.
Patrick (@anunaki)
3rd November 2024, 11:53
Well yesterday the VSC was deployed very late. This allowed Norris and piastri to swap and now max was 10th when the crash happened but 12th when the red flag came out.
This is of course not planned but feels frustrating
Davethechicken
3rd November 2024, 11:59
I take the point on yesterday, but today it was just bad luck for Max.
However it is always risky not to have a good bank lap on the board in qualifying especially in the wet.
Looks like there could be a few cars not starting the race with damage from qualifying.
BuitlInYorkshire
3rd November 2024, 11:39
There are more conspiracy theorists on here than at a Flat Earth conference…
MichaelN
3rd November 2024, 11:57
It’s quite something. Some of these tales are very creative though.
BLS (@brightlampshade)
3rd November 2024, 11:40
Norris was already safe before the yellow/red flag shenanigans wasn’t he?
Looks like this is all down to Red Bull leaving it too late to give their drivers multiple shots at it.
Davethechicken
3rd November 2024, 11:48
Yes he was 7th, so was through to Q3 anyway
anon
3rd November 2024, 11:56
@brightlampshade yes, Norris’s previous lap was already good enough for him to get through in 4th place – as for Verstappen, it looks like Leclerc had already bumped Verstappen down to 11th place just before Stroll’s crash, so an immediate red flag would have sent him out of Q2 anyway.
As you’ve said, it looks like the real problem was Red Bull didn’t give their drivers any opportunity to set a second lap time if anything went wrong. We heard Perez complaining about exactly that problem over the radio before they restarted the session, so the drivers clearly thought there was a risk they’d be in trouble if there was another red flag.
Patrick (@anunaki)
3rd November 2024, 11:43
Wow now the red flag is directly deployed LOL
Riccard
3rd November 2024, 11:43
Still time to restart after this one
All eyes on the weather radar
Ray West (@raynaud2211)
3rd November 2024, 11:46
Haha, Aston Martin with 2 crashed cars above Verstappen. Did a good job haha.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
3rd November 2024, 11:47
Woah, that just let go on him mid-corner! We’ll have a grid eventually. The early start was a wise decision…
BLS (@brightlampshade)
3rd November 2024, 11:48
Busy morning for several teams now, wonder how many pit lane starts we’ll be getting.
Patrick (@anunaki)
3rd November 2024, 11:49
Ok so the “rule” seems to be that the cars in front of the crash are allowed to finish their lap and after they finish the red flag is deployed.
Didn’t know that
BLS (@brightlampshade)
3rd November 2024, 11:52
I suppose it makes sense unless it looks like the crashed driver needs immediate aid.
Your lap gets deleted in double yellows anyway so the drivers have no reason to push their luck past a crashed car. Just depends how vulnerable the crash site looks.
Ray West (@raynaud2211)
3rd November 2024, 11:53
That makes no sense at all. But happy to know what rule it is in the rulebook.
Davethechicken
3rd November 2024, 11:55
Lando was safe for Q3 anyway in 7th so it is kind of a moot point in regard the Lando Max battle, but would be interesting to see the actual rule
Ray West (@raynaud2211)
3rd November 2024, 12:00
Poh, I guess Max has some luck with all the damaged cars in front of him. Guess Aston Martin and Albon start from pit. So 3 places up.
And Albon braking on the green stuff is not clever it seems.
Davethechicken
3rd November 2024, 12:05
I wouldn’t be surprised if Albon’s car is too damaged to repair in time and doesn’t start the race at all.
Ray West (@raynaud2211)
3rd November 2024, 12:06
That one was really damaged indeed.
BLS (@brightlampshade)
3rd November 2024, 12:00
So we could be looking at at least 4 cars starting in the pit lane?
Race starts in under 3hr30m now…..
t1redmonkey (@t1redmonkey)
3rd November 2024, 12:01
There’s going to be a lot of pitlane starts, Max probably not going to be as far down as it seemed.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
3rd November 2024, 12:04
Yes, he’ll get most of his penalty back.
Ben
3rd November 2024, 12:02
Ouch! That car is not starting the race!
Riccard
3rd November 2024, 12:04
Parts of it might! Two sets of pieces to make one jigsaw…
BLS (@brightlampshade)
3rd November 2024, 12:05
So whoever gets out first will have time for 2 push laps, those behind will likely only get the 1 push lap.
Unless it gets a lot drier I think the grid is now set.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
3rd November 2024, 12:12
They need a Careful Now sign before the Senna S, Ocon almost became another victim!
Riccard
3rd November 2024, 12:13
Tsunoda/Lawson is going to be juicy 😂
Riccard
3rd November 2024, 12:14
That was a properly fun quali section to watch.
And a race in three hours! F1 spoils us
BLS (@brightlampshade)
3rd November 2024, 12:15
Well that’s an interesting grid!
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
3rd November 2024, 12:21
Well done Yuki, he tried to do the leap into his crew’s arms but it’s a long way up there for him…