FIA race director Rui Marques was forced to red-flag the São Paulo Grand Prix qualifying inside three minutes after the heavens opened over Interlagos.
The majority of the drivers were ready on intermediate tyres in the pit lane as they waited for qualifying to start. That followed a thunderstorm that hit the circuit not long after the final practice session had concluded, leaving the track wet.
But as the clock ticked towards the start of qualifying, a torrential downpour swept over the track.
Several drivers managed to take on the extreme-wet compound for the out lap, but the rain rapidly grew in intensity.
After two minutes and 23 seconds of qualifying, Marques called a halt.
The FIA announced at 15:09 local time, nine minutes after qualifying had started, that it expected the level of rain "to continue for about 10 minutes".
A spokesperson added: "Once the conditions improve, we intend to send the medical car on track to assess the level of standing water."
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