Lando Norris claims Interlagos pole position after chaotic wet qualifying session

UPDATE - follow-up to São Paulo Formula One Grand Prix qualifying in Brazil – live (but with a red flag for rain): Lando Norris secured pole position at Interlagos with a lap time of 1:27.470, marking his second consecutive year on pole at the São Paulo Grand Prix following a heavily weather-disrupted qualifying session.

Grid Lineup

Norris will share the front row with Antonelli, who qualified alongside him. George Russell dropped to seventh place after a team misjudgment cost him a final flying lap just as heavy rain arrived. Leclerc carries a 10-place penalty, promoting Liam Lawson to third on the grid with Hulkenberg alongside him. The top ten order features Norris, Russell, Antonelli, Leclerc, Lawson, Hulkenberg, Hadjar, Bearman, Alonso, and Albon.

Driver Reactions

Reflecting on the tricky conditions, Lando Norris told Naomi Schiff that it was a long day and a great achievement to take pole here two years in a row. George Russell expressed frustration over being told to back off due to traffic from Albon before the rain hit, with Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff attempting to console him. Antonelli described the wet session as very tricky since he had never driven the circuit in the wet before.

Context

Qualifying sessions at Interlagos frequently face heavy rain and sudden weather shifts, which disrupt track drying and force teams to make split-second tyre choices. Penalties and late-session crashes add further unpredictability to the final starting grid.