1, 2, 3, splash!
Rain and heat define a race. There have been various changing conditions, however, which created unpredictable and fascinating minutes! Such quick shift took place during Qualifying for the 2023 SÃO PAULO GRAND PRIX. Heavy clouds sank over the track, sparking mayhem. Here, Max Verstappen's pole position lap was broadcasted during live TV. When he completed his attempt, it literally seemed a difference of day and night compared to its start, as the sun entirely disappeared. When all drivers returned to the pits, a thunderstorm kicked in with such a rapidity that race control had to officially state a climate variation. That Q3 session was red flagged with no resumption, since lightnings were about to struck! One particular event though, saw two determining downpours, one at the beginning, one and at the end.
Five laps
Nürburgring: 2007 EUROPEAN GRAND PRIX. Pole sitter Kimi Räikkönen pulls away ahead of teammate Felipe Massa. Immediately the heavens open and most competitors opt to stop. On his way into the pit lane, the leading Ferrari misses the corner and lands back on the circuit, now forced to do a whole, costly lap. On lap 3, after aquaplaining is seriously challenging car control, six vehicles spin at the sharp first corner. Amongst them is Lewis Hamilton, who suffered a major incident a day earlier. He keeps his engine running and is helped out of the gravel, allowing him to rejoin. Phenomenally, debutant Markus Winkelhock was now P1 in his Spyker the slowest vehicle. His dared attempt to stop at the end of the formation lap and fit wet tyres on paid off monumentally.
Underdog success or unique scenes?
The red flag is waved on lap 5, thus all cars come to a halt. Next, the precipitation relents and whilst the Safety Car comes back before the restart, the field had switched to the intermediate compound. Just Winkelhock kept his tyres, gambling on heavy showers to come. He was swiftly passed from left to right. Eventually, the German retired due to hydraulic issues and terminated his FORMULA 1 career, as he was not given further chances. To date, Winkelhock holds the record for gaining the most places on the opening lap, namely 21, having started P22 and last. Ten tours before the chequered flag, rain hits back. Massa, who stayed firmly in the lead, is now chased by Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard blasts past the Ferrari, who touches his opponent. The McLaren driver triumphs, with Mark Webber completing the podium. Ultimately, Alonso and Massa have a dust-up in the cooldown room and Michael Schumacher, then a retired Ferrari team-member and ambassador, was designed to hand over the winner's trophy to the constructor, in this case the main rival.
