Red flag at Interlagos: torrential rain stops qualifying for the Brazilian GP
He Sao Paulo Grand Prix (Brazil) It became a water trap again. The intense rainfall unleashed before the session forced the FIA to stop classification with a red flag due to zero visibility and lack of drainage.
The arrival of the storm tested the reaction capacity on the pit walls, revealing the tactical dilemma with the green tire (Intermediate) and the blue (Extreme Rain / Full Wet):
The attempt with intermediates: At the beginning of the session, several drivers risked going out with intermediate tires seeking to take advantage of the channels to evacuate water before the track was completely flooded. However, in a matter of seconds the flow on the asphalt exceeded the evacuation capacity of the intermediate tires, causing continuous episodes of aquaplaning on straight lines and braking.
The transition to Full Wets and the visibility problem: The teams were forced to change to extreme rain tires. Although these rubbers displace an enormous amount of liters per second to maintain mechanical grip, they generate a dense curtain of water (spray).
The José Carlos Pace Autodrome It presents a natural topography of very sharp rises and falls, which historically makes the accumulation of water a critical factor. To mitigate the problems of the past, important modifications were made to the layout:
Micro-grooved and ribbed (Grooving): Recent works on the track included cutting furrows and cross channeling along the asphalt. These grooves are designed to break the surface film of water at the most difficult braking points (such as the descent of the Senna S or the climb to the finish line) and channel the runoff towards the edges of the track.
Changes in grip levels: Although these grooves prevent large volume puddles, they generate an unexpected response when the track goes from wet to saturated. When the capacity of the lateral drains overflowed due to the intensity of the deluge, the grooves ended up accumulating water in specific areas, forcing the pilots to look for unconventional lines to avoid the water traps.
Current situation
The session remains under neutralization while the circuit services try to clear the points with the greatest accumulation of water. The FIA monitors the evolution of the weather radar to determine if visibility conditions allow classification to be resumed or if rounds must be rescheduled. For now, the pit lane remains closed and the intensity of the rain decreases again.
