Mercedes driver George Russell has issued a warning regarding the potential for a “horrific incident” at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. His concerns follow the extreme wet conditions experienced during Saturday’s qualifying session at Interlagos. Russell stated that a repeat of those conditions during the race would be too dangerous for competition.
Qualifying for the 2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix was significantly disrupted by torrential rain. The opening segment, Q1, was red-flagged almost immediately due to standing water on the circuit.
The session was halted for approximately an hour and a half as conditions were deemed unsafe for racing. Russell described the visibility as “zero” on the straight into Turn 4.
He reported aquaplaning and wheel-spinning in fifth gear at speeds exceeding 200 kilometres per hour. Several drivers, including Russell, felt the conditions were borderline even after the session resumed.
Lando Norris secured pole position for McLaren with a time of 1:27.470. Russell qualified second, 0.204 seconds behind Norris.
However, Russell will start seventh on the grid due to a five-place penalty for an engine change. This promotes Kimi Antonelli to the front row alongside Norris.
Other drivers also faced penalties, with Charles Leclerc dropping ten places for a new power unit. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton will start from the back of the grid due to multiple engine component changes.
Russell emphasised the severe risks if similar weather persists for the race. He stated that racing in such conditions would make the chances of a “really, really horrific incident” very high.
“I love driving in the rain here, but at some point, if that was a race, there was no way we should be driving in that because the chances of seeing a really, really horrific incident are very, very high.”
The 2026 Formula 1 season introduced the “Rain Hazard” rule to address such scenarios. This regulation allows teams to modify car setups, including ride height and wing incidence angle, between qualifying and race day if a 40% or higher chance of rain is predicted.
This rule aims to mitigate the aquaplaning risk associated with the 2026 ground-effect cars, which generate substantial vertical load. Additionally, full boost deployment is prohibited in wet conditions under the refined 2026 regulations.
Interlagos is known for its unpredictable weather, largely due to its microclimate. The circuit is situated between two large reservoirs, which release moisture into the atmosphere, contributing to sudden storm formation.
The latest forecast for Sunday, November 8, 2026, indicates a high probability of light rain and drizzle throughout the race. Air temperatures are expected to be cool, ranging from 16-17°C, a significant drop from Saturday’s qualifying.
Brazil’s National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) has issued a yellow storm warning for Sao Paulo. This forecasts rainfall of 20-30mm per hour, with potential hail and wind gusts up to 60 km/h.
Norris described the qualifying conditions as “some of the wettest” he had ever driven in. He expressed hope for a wet race, believing it could create an exciting event.
Isack Hadjar, who qualified seventh, voiced concerns about the grip levels of the full wet tyres. He stated that the performance needed to be improved for racing in such conditions.
Carlos Sainz also noted that visibility would be zero and aquaplaning significant if the race started in similar conditions to early Q1. McLaren team principal Andrea Stella anticipates a wet race.
The cold, wet, and potentially chaotic conditions could make tyre warm-up challenging for all teams. Interlagos typically sees a two-stop strategy, which often leads to eventful races, especially in the wet.
Russell also expressed frustration over a team instruction during Q3 to back off from a strong lap. He believed this decision, made to create a gap to Alex Albon, cost him a potential pole position before the rain intensified.
