Qualifying for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix was postponed to Sunday due to heavy rain.

The meeting was scheduled to begin at 6pm UK time (3pm local time) on Saturday.

After a series of delays, the decision was finally made at 4:45pm local time on Saturday that the track was too wet and conditions would not improve.

The FIA ​​governing body said a decision on a new start time would be made “as quickly as possible”.

Formula One president Stefano Domenicali said: “The conditions are simply not safe for driving and there is also a lighting issue that will hit the track very soon.”

Sunset in Sao Paulo is shortly after 6:00 p.m. local time.

Domenicali's interview with the official F1 television channel was interrupted by Lewis Hamilton, who said: “I want out. If you gave us better rain tires we could drive out of here.”

A spokesman for the governing body FIA said: “The decision was made due to the lack of visibility caused by the heavy rainfall over the last few hours.

“There is a lot of water on parts of the circuit, making the conditions unsafe.

“As much as we all want competition to take place on the track, the safety of drivers, team members, volunteers, officials and spectators is our top priority.”