Brazilian GP F1: Norris takes pole in the rain at Interlagos

Lando Norris (McLaren) will start from pole position in the Brazilian Formula 1 Grand Prix at Interlagos after chaotic, rain-hit qualifying. His lap of 1:27.470 was 0.204 s faster than George Russell (Mercedes); it is his third consecutive pole at this track. But engine penalties reshuffle the starting grid.

Qualifying in the rain

The session was red-flagged almost immediately, a little over two minutes in, because of torrential rain. Qualifying resumed after a delay of 83 minutes. In Q2, Rafael Câmara lost control of his car at his home race and hit a barrier with the nose: a second red flag ended the session early. Câmara finished 13th.

In Q3 the conditions allowed each driver only one flying lap. Norris delivered.

The qualifying order

• 1. Lando Norris (McLaren): 1:27.470
• 2. George Russell (Mercedes): +0.204
• 3. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes): +0.625
• 4. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): +0.819
• 5. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls): +0.851

Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) was ninth and made the top 10. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) was knocked out in Q2 in 11th, and Max Verstappen (Red Bull), who did not take part in Q2 because of his penalty, set no time in that segment.

The real grid after penalties

Several drivers drop back for engine component changes. Russell loses five places and will start seventh; Leclerc loses ten and starts 14th. Verstappen, Hamilton and Sergio Pérez are sent to the back: they will start 20th, 21st and 22nd respectively.

The front row will therefore be Norris and Antonelli, followed by Lawson, Nico Hülkenberg (Audi), Isack Hadjar (Red Bull) and Oliver Bearman (Haas), then Russell.

What to watch

With a weekend marked by rain and such a reshuffled grid, Sunday's race promises recoveries. One point is still to be confirmed on the official FIA grid: the exact order of Carlos Sainz and Leclerc in 13th and 14th, which the sources do not present identically.

The editorial team