“In My Whole Career I Never Experienced This”: Charles Leclerc Left Shell Shocked as Massive Storm Halts Brazilian GP Qualifying

Everyone expects rain at the Brazilian GP. After all the word Interlagos itself means between two lakes. As a result, the weather change at the Interlagos Circuit is quick and seems to have a mind of its own. However, what happened at the Brazilian GP qualifying this time around seemed to have shocked every driver and team. It even brought the qualifying to a complete stop to the point that it wasn’t resumed. But what happened? Why was Charles Leclerc left shocked?

From the start of the Q1 session, rain was expected. Midway through Q1, Ferrari engineers advised that rain is only a couple of minutes away. However, even Q2 passed by and there was no rain. But then before the start of Q3, Interlagos almost turned into the site of an Apocalyptic movie. F1 cars waiting in the pitlane as dark clouds crept towards the tracks. Everyone wanted to get out of the lane, to get the fastest lap while running away from the thunder.

Charles Leclerc finished P2 with about 5 minutes left on the clock, the thunderstorm hit the track and the session was called off by the FIA. It wasn’t safe for the cars to go out. However, even if it was, it did not seem like the driver who risked their life and is believed to be the bravest out there, would’ve wanted to. Charles Leclerc was left in shock after what he witnessed on track.

During the post-qualifying interview, Leclerc was heard saying, “This is the strangest thing ever. In my whole career, I never experienced that. It felt like it was raining but there was no rain around. Super weird.”

Read More: “This Is Ridiculous”: Charles Leclerc Loses His Cool as George Russell Causes Chaos in Qualifying

However, despite the terrible weather and the gusts out there, all the drivers, except for Oscar Piastri were able to put a competitive lap time on board. However, even the apocalypse-like weather couldn’t stop drivers from complaining on the radio.

Max Verstappen, Lance Stroll and others complain about the track conditions

While it was midway through Q3 that the Stewards decided that the track wasn’t driveable, drivers started complaining about it on their first laps in Q3. Max Verstappen on the radio advised how the tires had no grip at all. While there wasn’t any rain, the drop in track temperature and standing still in the pitlane definitely hampered the drivers. 

Lance Stroll during the post-qualifying interview explained how he locked up a couple of times and even went wide of the line, but was shocked that was still able to put his Aston Martin in the Top 3. Oscar Piastri went spinning in the final sector of the lap as he was amid the last runners out of the pitlane.

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It has been a classic Brazil qualifying with jeopardy involved all along. The rain certainly made it anti-climatic yet has left the likes of Verstappen, Leclerc, Alonso, and Stroll looking over their shoulders for Sunday. With the McLarens and Mercedes also looking quick, Interlagos could get even more chaotic come lights out on Sunday.