What happened: A sudden downpour has drenched the circuit in Malaysia, forcing crews to use umbrellas for water protection rather than sun shade. The precipitation reverses the extreme heat conditions that defined earlier practice and qualifying sessions.

Why it matters: A soaked surface alters the grip profile and tire strategy for the entire field. The dry-weather data collected earlier in the weekend is now largely obsolete for the race distance.

What to watch: Pit walls will evaluate radar updates to choose between intermediate and full wet compounds for the start.