Watch F1 drivers earn their paychecks in the Austin deluge this morning.

Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W06 at Formula One World Championship, Rd16, United States Grand Prix, Qualifying, Austin, Texas, USA, Saturday 24 October 2015. © Sutton Motorsport Images

Weather in Texas has been borderline biblical, flash floods, rain, lightning, the works.

Circuit of the Americas and FOM were in the awkward situation of having to look after public safety and getting on with the business of racing for a global audience.     The decision would not make anyone happy:  FP3 would go ahead with the track closed to spectators.

You would think no team would think of sending a car out on track under those circumstances but there was a catch:   because of the uncertain forecast for the afternoon qualifying session, FP3 times MIGHT count as qualifying!



What followed were some of the most amazing displays of car control we have seen in  quite a while as drivers had to try and put in fast laps under horrible conditions.

As of now, Qualifying is set to take place at the scheduled time this afternoon.









"OK, I just aquaplaned a little bit..."





Perez put his trust in higher powers...