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Lando Norris claimed pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in torrential rain that forced officials to delay qualifying by nearly an hour and a half due to dangerous track conditions. Drivers faced severe visibility issues and heavy aquaplaning during the session at Interlagos, with several front-runners expressing hope for continued rain during Sunday’s race.
Norris Capitalizes on Rain as Russell Laments Strategy
Norris secured his third consecutive pole position in Brazil, which also marked his first since the Spanish Grand Prix in September. The McLaren driver acknowledged to BBC Sport that the wet weather compensated for his car’s lack of dry-weather pace compared to Mercedes. He noted that the tricky conditions allowed him to make a bigger difference on track, adding that he hopes damp conditions persist for the main event.
Mercedes driver George Russell finished second fastest behind Norris but starts seventh following a five-place grid penalty. Russell expressed frustration over a team miscommunication during Q3 that led him to back off on a critical lap, expecting another attempt before heavier rain arrived. Reflecting on the extreme track state, Russell stated that Q1 featured zero visibility down the straight into Turn Four, adding, “I was wheel-spinning in fifth gear, over 200km/h (120mph), aquaplaning.”
Reshuffled Grid and Breakthrough Performances
Grid penalties for multiple top contenders combined with the weather created an unfamiliar lineup behind Norris. Kimi Antonelli, who clinched the world championship at the previous round, will start alongside Norris on the front row. Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson and Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg occupy the second row in third and fourth, followed by Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar in fifth and Haas driver Oliver Bearman in sixth.
Fernando Alonso placed his Aston Martin eighth on the grid, securing his first Q3 appearance of the season despite struggling with cold tyres in the final segment. Williams driver Alex Albon joined him in the top 10 in ninth position for his first Q3 appearance of 2026, while McLaren’s Oscar Piastri completed the top ten starters.
Penalties Send Champions to the Back
Several high-profile drivers face recovery drives from near the bottom of the grid after exceeding their engine component allowances. Max Verstappen of Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari will start 21st and 20th respectively. Hamilton required another power unit after his newly installed engine suffered a failure during final practice. Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc qualified fourth but carries a 10-place engine penalty, moving him back to 14th on the grid.
The session followed clear-the-air talks between Leclerc and Hamilton after their first-lap incident at the previous race in Mexico. Both Ferrari drivers confirmed the matter was resolved ahead of the weekend, with Leclerc returning to the paddock after traveling home to Europe earlier in the week for the birth of his daughter, Bianca.
