What happened: Rain, thunder, and lightning arrived at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace following the conclusion of practice sessions for the São Paulo Grand Prix. Weather monitoring indicated storm cells developing south of the circuit, bringing heavy downpours and hail risks to the area.

Why it matters: The sudden shift in track conditions threatens to disrupt run plans and setup choices ahead of the weekend's competitive sessions. Wet and changing track surfaces at Interlagos historically scramble qualifying order and complicate tire strategies.

What to watch: Officials and teams will monitor radar trends and track conditions leading into the qualifying session.