Amid persistent torrential rain and thunderstorms in the area, the traditional one-hour qualifying session in Brazil couldn’t be held on Saturday afternoon as scheduled.
Lewis Hamilton pleads with F1 to improve wet running amid Brazil GP disruption
The FIA pushed back the start time on several occasions during an almost two-hour period when the decision was taken to postpone qualifying until Sunday morning.
F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali was conducting an interview to explain the decision when Hamilton interrupted to make clear his discontent with the choice not to go out.
Hamilton, a renowned wet weather specialist, pleaded with the Italian to ensure tyre manufacturer Pirelli constructs compounds that can manage vast standing water.
“You should’ve sent us out, this is ridiculous, we should go out! I wanna go out,” Hamilton admitted.
“If you give us better wet tyres or blankets we’d be able to run in this! I’m putting you on the spot.”
The exchange proved to be a cordial encounter as the two embraced, with Domenicali then going on to apologise to the spectators who remained in the grandstands.
“First of all let me reiterate that these fans are incredible,” he added.
“We cannot control the weather as you know and it’s a pity but the conditions are not safe to drive, it’s as simple as that.
“There is a problem of light also. So unfortunately that’s the situation we have to manage.”
With adverse weather conditions anticipated on Sunday, the FIA also published that the race start time would take place at an earlier time of 12:30 local (15:30 GMT).
Earlier on, Hamilton revealed that he was planning extreme set-up changes to his Mercedes car having endured a torrid Sprint which saw him trail home in 11th place.
“Horrendous! Honestly it felt really terrible today, even worse than it did in qualifying,” he lamented.
“Definitely a very difficult race, that was one of the worst races. I felt the car just sliding around and zero grip behind even the Williams.
“I could barely keep up with them for a period of time. Lots of work to do to try and change the car, flip it on its head for quali.”
