What Lewis Hamilton told F1 CEO about ‘ridiculous’ Sao Paulo Grand Prix qualifying postponement

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Lewis Hamilton and his Formula 1 rivals weren’t able to run in qualifying for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Saturday evening. The session had to be postponed due to excessive rain.

Qualifying was due to get underway at 15:00 local time, but there was a thunderstorm in the lead-up to the session. Delays were anticipated as a result, and they soon began to arrive.

In 15-minute increments, the proposed start of qualifying kept being pushed back. Organisers were also aware of the incoming sunset, which heightened the safety risks.

The hope is that qualifying can be held instead on Sunday morning. But that will depend on the conditions.

If not, the procedure for setting the starting grid is at the discretion of the stewards. That’s assuming the race itself can be held, but there’s a little more optimism on that front.

Lewis Hamilton says F1 needs ‘better wet tyres’ as Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying postponed

After the decision to postpone qualifying was finally made, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali spoke to Will Buxton on the world feed coverage. He thanked the fans at the circuit for their patience and explained why it was impossible to send the cars out on track.

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton interrupted the interview to tell Domenicali, seemingly in a light-hearted tone, that it was a ‘ridiculous’ call. He also proposed a change to prevent a repeat in future.

The seven-time world champion wants to see revisions to the wet tyres, presumably so they clear more standing water. Race control expected the drivers to aquaplane on the surface if they went out on Saturday, inevitably leading to accidents.

“You should have sent us out!” he said. “It’s ridiculous, we should go out! I want to go out. If you give us better wet tyres with blankets, we’d be able to run in this. I’m putting you on the spot.”

Ted Kravitz on the moment that was a ‘shocker’ for Lewis Hamilton in BrazilI

It’s been a tough weekend for Hamilton so far in Brazil. He was knocked out of Sprint qualifying in SQ2 and only made up one position in the race.

Ted Kravitz said Hamilton had a ‘shocker’ of a start, dashing any hope of points. He’ll hope neither of these sessions end up being the basis for the grid.

Equally, he was down in 16th in FP1 after electing not to run the soft compound tyres. A wet qualifying on Sunday morning would be doubly advantageous – he could put his lowly results behind him and utilise the supreme instincts he’s repeatedly showcased in the rain.

Hamilton was due to drive Ayrton Senna’s McLaren at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace. But it’s unclear if there will be time for that run to take place now.