Norris Shines Under Pressure in Brazil Qualifying
McLaren's Lando Norris delivered a stunning performance to seize pole position for the sprint race at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, putting himself in the perfect position to extend his Formula 1 world championship lead. The British driver's lap came under intense pressure, with a heavy rainstorm forecast to hit the Interlagos circuit on Saturday, potentially turning the 24-lap dash into a lottery.
Title Rivals Left in Norris's Wake
Norris, who reclaimed the championship lead with a dominant victory in Mexico two weeks ago, will start ahead of all his key rivals. His McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, who sits just one point behind Norris in the standings, qualified third. The biggest surprise came from reigning champion Max Verstappen, who could only manage sixth place and was heard complaining over the radio that his Red Bull was "completely broken" and "just undriveable." Verstappen now trails Norris by 36 points.
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli produced an impressive drive to qualify second, splitting the two McLarens, with George Russell fourth in the other Mercedes. Fernando Alonso secured fifth for Aston Martin, one place ahead of the struggling Verstappen.
Hamilton's Frustration Continues
The session brought more disappointment for Lewis Hamilton and his legion of Brazilian fans. The seven-time world champion, who idolised local hero Ayrton Senna, was eliminated in the second qualifying segment (Q2) and will start the sprint race from a lowly 11th position.
Hamilton's final lap was compromised when his Ferrari teammate, Charles Leclerc, spun in the closing stages. The British driver, still waiting for his first podium with Ferrari after 21 appearances, was left shaking his head in frustration. His disillusioned radio response of "Yeah, every time, mate" to his race engineer highlighted the ongoing struggles. Despite the spin, Leclerc progressed to the final session and will start eighth.
The final qualifying times showed Norris finished 0.097 seconds clear of Antonelli, with Piastri a further 0.088 seconds back. Verstappen was a significant third-of-a-second slower than the pole-sitter.
Top 10 Grid for Brazil GP Sprint
- Lando Norris - McLaren
- Kimi Antonelli - Mercedes
- Oscar Piastri - McLaren
- George Russell - Mercedes
- Fernando Alonso - Aston Martin
- Max Verstappen - Red Bull
- Lance Stroll - Aston Martin
- Charles Leclerc - Ferrari
- Isack Hadjar - Racing Bulls
- Nico Hulkenberg - Sauber
With 114 points still available across the final four race weekends, the stage is set for a dramatic sprint race in Brazil, with weather and championship tensions reaching a boiling point.
