November 3rd 2024.
Torrential rain had been wreaking havoc on the Sau Paulo Grand Prix, causing delays and chaos for the drivers. Even the legendary Sir Lewis Hamilton was not immune to its effects, as he found himself qualifying at the back of the grid for the race in Brazil.
The seven-time F1 champion had been eagerly anticipating the opportunity to race in the heavy downpour, as qualifying had been pushed back a day due to the intense rain hitting the Interlagos circuit. Originally scheduled for Saturday evening UK time, the session had to be postponed to Sunday morning.
Despite the delay, the conditions on Sunday were still treacherous, with even experienced drivers like Williams' Franco Colapinto and Ferrari's Carlos Sainz struggling to keep control of their cars and ending up in the barriers. But the biggest surprise of all came when Hamilton, known for his exceptional skills in wet weather, failed to make it past the first part of qualifying.
In a shocking turn of events, Hamilton would be starting the race in 16th place on the grid. The race, weather permitting, was set to begin at 3:30pm on Sunday. It was a disappointing outcome for Hamilton, who had playfully interrupted a live interview with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali the day before, jokingly demanding "better tyres" and the chance to race in the monsoon conditions.
"You should've sent us out, this is ridiculous, we should go out! I wanna go out!" Hamilton had exclaimed with a smile, embracing Domenicali. "If you give us better wet tyres or blankets, we'd be able to run in this! I'm putting you on the spot!"
However, after struggling with his Mercedes W15 during qualifying, Hamilton may have been wishing for drier conditions, although it's uncertain if it would have made much of a difference. "This damn car. Why?" he had angrily exclaimed over the radio after being knocked out.
But the disappointment was not reserved for Hamilton alone, as other drivers also faced challenges in the difficult conditions. It was a tumultuous start to the race weekend, and there was sure to be more excitement and drama to come. Stay tuned for updates on the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
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