Brazil GP qualifying postponed after heavy rain and lightning at Interlagos

Qualifying was due to take place on Saturday but horrendous conditions meant action could not take place

Qualifying at the Brazilian Grand Prix was postponed on Saturday in Sao Paulo (Getty Images)

Qualifying at the Brazilian Grand Prix was postponed on Saturday evening due to heavy rain at the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo.

Qualifying is now scheduled to take place at 7:30am local time (10:30am GMT), though heavy rain is also expected on Sunday too.

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It remains to be seen how the grid for Sunday’s race would be decided if qualifying was unable to take place.

The session, which sets the grid for Sunday’s grand prix, was constantly pushed back on Saturday afternoon, with the FIA conducting regular checks of the track surface.

However, just before 5pm local time, FIA race director Niels Wittich made the decision to postpone the session.

The race is now set to start at 3:30pm (GMT) – 12:30pm local time.

Lando Norris, in dry conditions, had earlier won the sprint race in Brazil to cut the deficit to Max Verstappen in the world championship to 44 points.

Qualifying is now scheduled to take place at midday (GMT) (Getty Images)

Liam Lawson waves to the fans amid the rain at Interlagos (Getty Images)

Verstappen received a post-race penalty for a virtual safety car infringement, dropping him from third to fourth.

The three-time F1 world champion also has to serve a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s grand prix after taking a new engine.