The qualifying session at the Interlagos circuit presented an extreme weather challenge for Lewis Hamilton as he faced a hefty grid penalty. The British veteran started his Saturday knowing he would serve a ten-place grid drop due to an ICE replacement on his Ferrari SF-26.
A sudden technical issue during FP3 prompted the Maranello engineers to change the entire power unit, forcing the seven-time world champion to start Sunday's race from the very back of the grid. Given the rain forecasts and the layout of the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, the team opted to focus on a strategic recovery race.
Consequently, qualifying served primarily as a test session for Lewis Hamilton to find a good feeling in wet conditions should rain persist on race day. The Briton was eliminated in Q2 with the eleventh fastest time, setting his lap on wet tires rather than the more performant intermediate rubber at that moment.
Speaking to Sky Sports UK, the experienced racer expressed his genuine affection for treacherous track conditions. He noted that the limited running in practice turned the qualifying hour into an invaluable testing window to understand the car's behavior.
With unpredictable weather expected to return for the grand prix, the data gathered during this wet running will prove crucial for the team's race pace strategy from the rear of the grid.
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