‘Absolutely insane’: Carnage as Brazil Grand Prix qualifying called off

The Brazil Grand Prix has been rocked by an order given to teams with drivers completely gobsmacked in scenes they’ve never witnessed before.

Seventh placed qualifier Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren walks in the Pitlane. Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images.

Qualifying for the Brazil Grand Prix was red-flagged on Saturday morning with severe weather causing carnage.

Max Verstappen has taken pole position for Monday morning’s race in Sao Paulo after some bizarre qualifying drama.

Verstappen will start ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on the front row, with Lance Stroll third for Aston Martin. Fernando Alonso will start fourth.

Watch every Practice, Qualifier & Race of The 2023 FIA Formula One World Championship Live and Ad-Break Free in racing on Kayo Sports. Join now and start streaming instantly >

The world champion was one of several drivers to admit they were bamboozled by the “insane” weather that caused Q3 to be abandoned.

Verstappen got the job done with each driver only having time for one flying lap before the final session was called off.

Teams learned of the order with a message that appeared on their screens confirming a “change in climatic conditions” had forced the FIA stewards to pull the plug.

Leclerc said after the session he’d never seen anything like it.

“In my whole career I have never experienced something like that,” he said.

“From Turn 4 onwards there was no rain. But the car was extremely difficult to drive, no grip.

“I was thinking about coming in at the end of the lap but I finished it and it was P2. So a really good surprise. A very weird one for everyone at the track.”

According to one reporter, parts of the temporary grand stands were blown over.

It has gone pitch black and the wind is really strong. Proper take cover time - no more running will take place as the clock ticks down #F1#BrazilGP

— Chris Medland (@ChrisMedlandF1) November 3, 2023

What a scary 10 minutes on track! A grandstand roof collapsed at the last corner and nearly got decapitated by falling debris! #F1#Formula1#BrazilianGPpic.twitter.com/dWvkpgVweO

— Andy Hone (@andyhone) November 3, 2023

Day turned to night at Interlagos before Max Verstappen was confirmed as pole sitter for Sunday's race #F1#BrazilGPpic.twitter.com/LlUE5V7LEw

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 3, 2023

Verstappen said his flying lap felt terrible and was surprised it was enough to secure pole.

“We didn’t know when it would hit in qualifying, we thought it would hit. This is of course insane weather,” he said.

“Charles and I were just discussing, our laps felt terrible, but I don’t know, I think the wind started to change and started to be very strong and we lost a lot of lap time because of it. It was all quite hectic in the last lap.

“It seems that it’s all very close. You could see that already in qualifying. I expect the same also in the race.”

.

Daniel Ricciardo prepares to drive in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Photo by Rudy Carezzevoli/Getty Images.

Seventh placed qualifier Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren walks in the Pitlane. Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images.

The weather was particularly bad news for McLaren with the team surprising many to look like the fastest cars in Q2.

Lando Norris went into Q3 as the man to catch, but Q3 went all wrong for the team when Oscar Piastri spun off the track.

The Aussie will start from P10 after he was unable to complete a lap in Q3.

Piastri was one of the last drivers to get on track in Q3 and never had a chance when the extreme weather intensified dramatically.

Daniel Ricciardo had a disaster and was unable to make it out of Q1.

AlphaTauri teammate Yuki Tsunoda was also eliminated in Q1,

“The first run was strong, I think we were definitely a lot faster than the overall time showed,” Ricciardo said.

“That last lap I nearly had a spin turn 2, just came in a bit hot into Turn 1, probably didn’t get the tyres into the right spot for the start of the lap.

“So we’d already lost a chunk in the first sector and then little bits and pieces throughout the lap.

“Frustrating because we were definitely faster than that but just a few things didn’t quite work out.”

Sao Paulo GP Qualifying result: Top 10

1) Max Verstappen, Red Bull

2) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

3) Lance Stroll, Aston Martin

4) Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin

5) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

6) George Russell, Mercedes

7) Lando Norris, McLaren

8) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari

9) Sergio Perez, Red Bull

10) Oscar Piastri, McLaren