Source – Formula1.com
In a very exciting qualifying session leading up to the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, which included five red flags, multiple shock eliminations (including Max Verstappen’s exit in Q2), and shifting weather, Lando Norris secured pole position.
The Sao Paulo GP qualifying session brought high drama, intense battles, and a string of crashes, all after Saturday’s session was delayed due to rain. On a wet Sunday morning, the track conditions kept everyone guessing as drivers pushed their cars to the edge, and sometimes beyond. The final Q3 segment was marked by two major crashes involving Fernando Alonso and Alex Albon, which halted the session multiple times, leaving just over three minutes on the clock for the remaining seven cars to fight for pole.
In the end, Lando Norris capitalized on the brief opening to seize pole position with a swift lap of 1m 23.405s, keeping Mercedes’ George Russell at bay by 0.173 seconds. Despite the chaotic and slippery track, Norris delivered a near-flawless performance that placed him at the front of the grid. Meanwhile, Yuki Tsunoda turned heads with his best-ever qualifying result, taking an impressive third place for Red Bull. Tsunoda’s rise was a bright spot for his team and added an exciting element to the grid as he lined up beside Alpine’s Esteban Ocon in fourth.
Red Bull also saw a strong showing from Liam Lawson, who clinched fifth place, adding another solid result to the team’s tally. Behind him, Charles Leclerc secured sixth for Ferrari, staying competitive despite the challenging track conditions. Alex Albon held onto seventh despite his crash in Q3, which initially looked as though it might end his session prematurely. In the McLaren, Oscar Piastri encountered a tricky moment and settled for eighth.
The top ten were rounded out by Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll from Aston Martin. Alonso’s day ended after a heavy crash, while Stroll didn’t get the chance to participate in Q3 due to his own incident in Q2, which caused a second red flag. The Q2 session also saw Carlos Sainz hit the barriers in a crash that will require significant repair work on his Ferrari before the main event. The late red flag prevented both Red Bull drivers from setting improved times, with Max Verstappen finishing in 12th, set to start 17th due to a grid penalty, and Sergio Perez in 13th.
Valtteri Bottas of Kick Sauber and Pierre Gasly in the Alpine found themselves eliminated in 11th and 15th, respectively. Carlos Sainz ended up 14th, while Lewis Hamilton experienced a shock exit in Q1, finishing in 16th after narrowly missing the cut when Norris edged through. The Haas team faced disappointment, with substitute driver Oliver Bearman and Nico Hulkenberg only managing 17th and 19th. Franco Colapinto of Williams crashed out and took 18th, while Kick Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu closed the pack in 20th.
Norris’s pole position and Tsunoda’s career-best qualifying bring a new level of excitement to the Sao Paulo GP lineup. This unpredictable qualifying session promises a thrilling race day, with a mixed-up grid, heavy rain, and an array of strong contenders poised to fight for points and podiums on the challenging Brazilian circuit.
