“Almost decapitated by rubble”
F1 photographer describes scary storm capers
November 4, 2023, 10:11 a.m
The Formula 1 drivers are still out on the track when a storm breaks out during qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix. It’s scary and dangerous for the pilots – as well as for fans and employees. A tent roof is torn down and people are evacuated.
After the violent storm over São Paulo, clean-up work began immediately at the Autodrómo José Carlos Pace. The wind, which according to media reports reached speeds of more than 100 kilometers per hour in some areas of the Brazilian metropolis, caused, among other things, a tent roof on a grandstand to be torn off.
This was shown in a video that was circulating on X, formerly Twitter. The British Formula 1 photographer Andy Hone also reports about it at X. “What a scary 10 minutes on the track! A grandstand roof collapsed in the last corner and I was nearly decapitated by falling debris.” He explained: “The wind became so strong that the tent started to lift off, panels fell and riders’ helmets flew to the ground. The track staff shouted to the people in the stands that they had to evacuate because everything was becoming unstable. ” According to “Bild” there were no injuries. According to the organizers, several areas were damaged by the storm but should be repaired in time.
This Saturday is the Sprint Shootout (3 p.m) and the sprint (7.30 p.m.) further. The São Paulo Grand Prix takes place on Sunday (6 p.m./everything on Sky and in the ntv.de live ticker). World champion Max Verstappen in the Red Bull secured pole position after taking advantage of the last dry phase. “We knew the rain was coming, we just didn’t know when exactly,” said Verstappen. Then suddenly the wind changed: “From that point on it didn’t feel so good anymore,” and his car also “jumped like a kangaroo.”
Around ten minutes before the end of the qualification, deep dark clouds gathered over São Paulo on Friday and created frightening images of a heavy thunderstorm front. Even before a heavy cloudburst began, the wind had increased significantly. Formula 1 ended the knockout just four minutes before the actual conclusion. The weather is crazy, says Verstappen. Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc starts second on Sunday, the Monegasque spoke of “really difficult conditions, the car was difficult to drive in the end”.