Sao Paulo Grand Prix Qualifying, Digi Mart USA News (Interlagos, Brazil): Lando Norris sealed his third consecutive pole position at Interlagos as he thrived in the wet Qualifying session. The McLaren driver secured pole for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after severe delays to the session.
The Brazilian weather once again made for an exhilarating Qualifying as drivers took on the challenge of a wet track. Norris posted a 1m 27.470s to deny Mercedes’ George Russell and Kimi Antonelli top spot.
Russell will be demoted following a five-place grid penalty, but qualified ahead of his teammate, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who will also lose 10 positions for Sunday’s race, and Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson.
Nico Hulkenberg was a magnificent sixth for Audi as the conditions created chances for the midfield, with Isack Hadjar slotting into seventh. Haas’ Ollie Bearman, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Williams’ Alex Albon rounded out the top 10 in some of the greatest Qualifying performances of the season for their respective teams.
Further incoming penalties for Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will see them tumble to the back of the grid, so neither was too stressed about being eliminated in Q2. Verstappen did not participate at all in the second stage.
Oscar Piastri suffered his second consecutive Q2 exit after a late red flag caused by Rafael Camara’s crash prevented him from improving, leaving the Brazilian rookie in P13. Arvid Lindblad was also eliminated in P14 after being instructed to stop his car at Turn 5.
Earlier in Qualifying, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly were knocked out as they crossed the line in tandem, finishing P17 and P18 ahead of Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll. Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas settled for P20 ahead of teammate Sergio Perez, while Gabriel Bortoleto finished last on the times after hitting the wall in Q1.
The drivers had been treated to three dry practice sessions, which saw Norris, Antonelli and Verstappen top the times. Rain arrived in the build-up to Qualifying, and the red flag was waved just under three minutes into the session as conditions worsened.
After a significant delay, Q1 resumed on full wet tyres. Norris ended the first segment at the top of the timesheets with a 1m 30.939s, while the Alpine duo, Stroll, Bottas, Perez and Bortoleto were eliminated.
Norris said after the session: “It’s been a long day. It’s been a great Qualifying.
Obviously, to be on pole again here, it’s different conditions to last year but I’m very happy. It’s not easy conditions out there, especially when you know it’s going to rain a lot more.
It was about getting two laps in at the beginning and not making any mistakes, and that’s exactly what we did, so it’s been a very good day.”
The 2026 Sao Paulo Grand Prix is set to begin at 1400 local time on Sunday.
