Norris beats Mercedes in storm-hit qualifying to secure Sao Paulo pole

Sao Paulo Grand Prix qualifying witnessed McLaren's Lando Norris claiming pole position on Saturday due to a bold and strategic move in the rain-laden session. The 26-year-old British driver outpaced Mercedes' George Russell by 0.204 seconds, claiming his third consecutive pole at Interlagos. A two-and-a-half-hour session saw New world champion Kimi Antonelli secure third place for Mercedes, though he will start the race from the front row due to a five-place grid penalty for using new power-unit components.

Norris praised his performance, describing it as his first wet drive and a challenging but valuable day. Russell expressed disappointment over missing pole after being instructed to reduce his final push lap speed. Antonelli acknowledged the tricky conditions, having never driven at Interlagos in the rain. French driver Charles Leclerc, Ferrari's fourth qualifier, also faced a 10-place penalty for using a new engine.

Despite the adverse weather, Norris finished the session on top, while Russell was fourth, with other notable results including Fernando Alonso's ninth place for Aston Martin and Lewis Hamilton's 11th place, both with penalties for using new power units, while Max Verstappen, also penalized, was 16th for Red Bull.