Perfect weekend – Lando Norris on pole in Brazil

McLaren driver Lando Norris secured pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, the 21st round of the Formula 1 championship taking place this weekend at Interlagos. With a lap time of 1:09.511, the championship leader claimed the 15th pole of his career and his sixth of the season, keeping alive the prospect of a potentially perfect weekend in Brazil, achievable only with a victory in Sunday’s race.

Norris’ closest challenger, as in the Sprint qualifying, was Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), trailing by just 0.174 seconds, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will start from third, nearly three-tenths of a second slower than Norris. After a dominant Sprint win in which Norris triumphed and Oscar Piastri retired following an incident on lap six, qualifying for the main race was crucial for this year’s championship. During the first flying laps, Piastri initially led, with Norris down in tenth following a mistake, making the second run decisive.

The Briton hit the track first among the two and built a key advantage in sectors two and three, securing pole. Piastri, meanwhile, could not match his teammate, finishing 0.375 seconds behind in fourth, as Antonelli and Leclerc leapfrogged him.

Isac Hadjar, the Racing Point rookie, took fifth, while the remainder of the top ten included George Russell (Mercedes), teammate Liam Lawson, Oliver Bearman (Haas), Pierre Gasly (Alpine), and Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber).

The first qualifying segment saw a shock exit for reigning champion Max Verstappen, who has struggled with his Red Bull all weekend. After his timed lap, he fell below the cutoff, battling grip issues that caused significant sliding. Unlike others, Verstappen stayed on track for two installation laps before starting another flying lap. Despite improving his time, he remained almost 0.75 seconds slower than Norris, relegating him to 16th position for Sunday’s race.

Verstappen faces a tough challenge in the title battle, but it’s worth noting that last year he won at this very track starting from 17th in heavy rain, which he maximized perfectly. The current weather forecast could work in his favor again.

Behind Verstappen, Esteban Ocon (Haas), Franco Colapinto (Alpine), and teammate Yuki Tsunoda will start the race. Following a major Sprint incident, the only Brazilian driver, Gabriel Bortoleto, could not participate in qualifying due to extensive damage to his Sauber that the team could not repair in time. The local rookie will start his home Grand Prix from last place, 20th.

In the second qualifying segment, as in the Sprint, seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton was eliminated. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz made minor mistakes costing him time, and he will start 13th, ahead of him are Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) and Alex Albon (Williams), while Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) and Carlos Sainz (Williams) will line up behind.

The Sao Paulo Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday at 20:00.

SAO PAOLO GRAND PRIX - START POSITIONS (TOP 10)

1. L. Norris

2. K. Antonelli

3. C. Leclerc

4. O. Piastri

5. I. Hadjar

6. G. Russell

7. L. Lawson

8. O. Bearman

9. P. Gasly

10. N. Hulkenberg