Norris on Pole for Sau Paulo Grand Prix

McLaren's Lando Norris

Fresh from his Sprint victory earlier in the day, Lando Norris delivered another standout performance to take pole position for McLaren ahead of Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc after a gusty and unpredictable qualifying session at Interlagos.

“It was tough out there with the conditions,” said Norris after claiming pole. “Just slippery, inconsistent, but good fun. It’s always a pleasure around this track. I felt good. I was under a bit of pressure because I locked up on my first lap, so a little bit more pressure than I would have liked, but stayed calm and put it all together when it mattered. Very happy.

“I think it’s going to be a big challenge tomorrow. We have to see what the weather is going to do again. So far this weekend has been clean, so I’m hoping they (Antonelli and Leclerc) don’t ruin it.”

Antonelli, who once again came close to toppling Norris after pushing him hard in the Sprint, was left frustrated but confident heading into Sunday’s race.

“I’m a bit annoyed I’m again behind him,” admitted the Mercedes rookie. “We were so close this morning in the Sprint as well. It was a very tricky session with the wind, very tricky to put a lap together. But still, managing to put a decent lap, I’m happy with that. Starting P2 tomorrow, of course they’re very fast, so it’s going to be important to have a good start and try to set a good pace.”

Leclerc was relieved to have turned Ferrari’s fortunes around after a difficult start to the weekend.

“Very good laps in Q2 and Q3, and everything is so close it goes from being a disaster of a weekend to a really good one in a matter of a few hundredths,” he said. “I’m happy I could put everything together in Q2 and Q3, which was crucial for us as everything was on the limit. P3, I’m satisfied with that. It has been a difficult weekend for us.”

Championship contender Oscar Piastri (McLaren) will start fourth after a session that did not quite come together in the final moments.

“Just didn’t go any faster at the end of Q3, that was the biggest thing,” he admitted. “Very different conditions to what we had yesterday and everything felt much trickier today. A bit disappointing with the result but the car has looked quick this weekend, especially over a longer run, so hopefully I can take advantage of that tomorrow.

“Ultimately I will try and take whatever opportunities arise and if I can make progress forwards and put some pressure on, I will. But got to get there first.”

Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson impressed again with fifth place, ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell in sixth. Red Bull Racing’s Yuki Tsunoda took seventh, followed by Haas’ Oliver Bearman, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, and Kick Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg rounding out the top ten.

It was a qualifying session full of surprises, with reigning world champion Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) eliminated in Q1 after struggling for grip on his final lap. He will start sixteenth. Sir Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) was another unexpected casualty, knocked out in Q2 after battling balance issues in the blustery conditions. The seven-time world champion will start thirteenth for Sunday’s Grand Prix, behind Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso in eleventh and Williams’ Alex Albon in twelfth.

Also eliminated in Q2 were Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Williams’ Carlos Sainz, while in Q1 Haas’ Esteban Ocon, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto, and Verstappen joined the list of early exits.

Hamilton and Verstappen face a long afternoon as both former champions attempt to recover through the field at Interlagos.