Hamilton interrupts Domenicali interview to tell him “you should have sent us out” · RaceFans

Lewis Hamilton interrupted a live television interview with Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali to complain about the decision to postpone today’s qualifying session.

Qualifying at the Interlagos has been delayed until tomorrow due to heavy rain at the track. The session was due to begin at 3pm local time but heavy rain prior to and during the allocated time led the FIA to postponed it.

Domenicali spoke to the official F1 channel after the session was called off, during which Hamilton interrupted to tell him: “You should have sent us out.

“It’s ridiculous, we should go out,” said the seven-times world champion as he knowingly crashed the interview, smiling as he did so. “I want to go out. If you give us better wet tyres and [tyre] blankets, we’ll be able to run in this. I’m putting you on the spot.”

F1 drivers have repeatedly complained about the quality of F1’s wet weather tyres in recent years. Two wet weather compounds are specified under the rules, the lightly-treaded intermediates and heavily treaded full wets. However drivers have criticised the performance of the latter and often avoid using it wherever possible.

Drivers have also expressed concerns over the FIA’s decision to outlaw the use of tyre heating blankets for wet weather tyres. F1’s official tyre supplier Pirelli introduced a new wet weather compound last year designed not to require blankets.

Domenicali supported the FIA’s decision not to hold the session due to the conditions and with sunset approaching. “We cannot control the weather, as you know,” he said. “And it’s a pity but the conditions are not safe to drive, it’s as simple as that.

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“There is a problem also of light that very soon will hit the track. So unfortunately, that’s the situation we have to manage. So one second.”

The rescheduled session is expected to take place tomorrow morning. “The FIA is doing the final check on what could be the right timing to organise the quali and to follow up the plan to complete the day,” he said. “It’s a great event and we need to make sure that we can maximise everything in all the conditions that can be acceptable.”