Norris grabs pole in rainswept qualifying for Sao Paulo Grand Prix

McLaren's Lando Norris secured pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix during Saturday's wet qualifying session at Interlagos. The 26-year-old British driver outpaced Mercedes' George Russell by 0.204 seconds, claiming his third consecutive pole at Interlagos in a stormy two-and-a-half-hour session. New world champion Kimi Antonelli finished third for Mercedes, but will start from the front row due to a five-place grid penalty for using new power-unit components.

Norris acknowledged it was his first time driving the car in the wet, stating he quickly figured out the conditions. He expressed satisfaction with his pole position, noting the challenging circumstances and Mercedes' competitiveness. Russell was disappointed not to secure pole after being instructed by Mercedes to ease off on his final push lap.

Antonelli admitted the conditions were tricky and he made a mistake, nearly losing control of his car. Charles Leclerc secured fourth place for Ferrari, but will also start from the front row after receiving a 10-place penalty for a new engine. Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson was fifth, followed by Audi's Nico Hulkenberg, Red Bull's Isack Hadjar, and Haas' Oliver Bearman.

Fernando Alonso finished ninth for Aston Martin, while Alex Albon was 10th for Williams. Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton qualified 11th and faces a penalty, starting from the back of the grid. Max Verstappen, who also has a 20-place penalty, was 16th for Red Bull. After a 90-minute delay, the session resumed under adverse weather conditions.

Lewis Hamilton dominated Q1, with Norris close behind in 13th. Valtteri Bottas led Q2 until a red flag halted proceedings when Rafael Camara crashed into the wall during a practice run.