Brazilian GP to start 90 minutes earlier than planned with more rain ahead. Norris wins sprint race

SAO PAULO (AP) — Heavy rain at the Interlagos track washed out qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix, with Sunday's race set to start 90 minutes earlier than originally scheduled amid the forecast of more rain.

Organizers announced qualifying had been postponed Saturday after a two-hour delay, with no cars having the chance to clock any laps.

“The decision was taken due to the lack of visibility caused by the level of rain we have experienced in the past few hours. There is a lot of standing water on parts of the circuit which renders conditions unsafe,” Formula One’s governing body FIA said on social media. “As much as we would all like to see competition on track, the safety of drivers, team members, volunteers, officials and spectators is our main priority.”

Qualifying will now take place Sunday at the Sao Paulo circuit.

The FIA said qualifying will start at 7:30 a.m. local time (1030 GMT), and the start of the Grand Prix was brought forward from 2 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. (1530 GMT).

“This will ensure we maximize the chances of providing the fans with a day of racing action and both the FIA and F1 believe this change is necessary and the right thing to do for our passionate fans,” the FIA said in a statement.

More than 60,000 fans started emptying the stands shortly after the announcement Saturday that there would be no qualifying that day.

Earlier, McLaren driver Lando Norris won the Formula 1 sprint race to cut his deficit to championship leader Max Verstappen.

But Norris had to thank teammate Oscar Piastri for handing him victory at Interlagos.

Red Bull's Verstappen finished third, but lost one position due to a virtual safety car infringement.

The gap between Norris and Verstappen, with four grands prix and a final sprint race to the end of the season, is now 44 points.

Norris started second on the grid and, late into the 24 laps of the sprint race, Piastri gave way to him.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who also has a long shot at the title, ended fourth, just ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. The stewards' decision after the sprint race pushed him to third ahead of Verstappen.

Mercedes' George Russell, Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Red Bull's Sergio Perez were next best and within points positions.

Norris appeared upset on the team radio about leader Piastri's pace for most of the sprint race.

“I am not sure what I am doing here, mate,” Norris said. “I thought we spoke about this.”

Later, Norris said McLaren had done a good job.

“I am not proud about it but we worked well as a team together so I thank Oscar," he said. “Oscar deserved (a win) but we did what we had to do."

At first, Piastri did not elaborate on the McLaren decision. "A great day for the team and a lot of points. We learned a lot for the race tomorrow,” he said.

Speaking to journalists later, Piastri described the race as “a bit of a tricky one.”

“(Giving way to Norris) is not as fun as winning,” the Australian driver said. “But we've been talking about this for months now.”

Three-time champion Verstappen will find it tough to beat the McLarens in Sunday's race. He has received a five-place grid punishment after changing his engine for the sixth time in the season — the maximum allowed is four.

Stewards said in their decision that Verstappen was “above the minimum time at the virtual safety car end” during the sprint race. The Dutchman received a five-second penalty that dragged him to fourth place. He also picked up one penalty point, and now has a total of seven for the 12-month period.

The tribute to legendary three-time champion Ayrton Senna was also postponed. His title-winning McLaren will be driven by one of his biggest fans, Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton.

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The safety car drives on the track during a rain delay at the qualifying session ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix auto race at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Sebastiao Moreira/Pool Photo via AP)

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, right, shakes hands with Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands after setting the fastest time during the sprint race ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix auto race at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands walks on the track after the sprint race ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix auto race at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Ettore Chiereguini)

F1 cars wait in line to enter the track from pit lane during the sprint race ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix auto race at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Sebastiao Moreira/Pool Photo via AP)

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, left, steers his car to win the sprint race, followed by his teammate Oscar Piastri of Australia, ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix auto race at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024.(Sebastiao Moreira/Pool Photo via AP)

McLaren driver Lando Norris, of Britain, steers his car during the sprint qualifying session ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix auto race, at the Interlagos racetrack in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Friday, Nov. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Ettore Chiereguini)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump plans to pardon former Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez, a White House official said Friday.

Vázquez pleaded guilty last August to a campaign finance violation in a federal case that authorities say also involved a former FBI agent and a Venezuelan banker. Her sentencing was set for later this month.

Federal prosecutors had been seeking one year behind bars.

The official who confirmed the planned pardon indicated Trump, a Republican, saw the case as political prosecution and said the investigation into Vázquez, a Republican aligned with the pro-statehood New Progressive Party, had begun 10 days after she endorsed Trump in 2020. The official wasn’t authorized to reveal the news by name and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Vázquez, an attorney, was the U.S. territory’s first former governor to plead guilty to a crime, specifically accepting a donation from a foreigner for her 2020 political campaign. She was arrested in 2022.

FILE - Governor Wanda Vázquez speaks at a press conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti, File)