Norris secures pole in Brazil; Verstappen will start 17th

Posted : 03 November 2024

Lando Norris claimed pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, bolstering his title hopes after a challenging, rain-soaked qualifying session that was delayed multiple times. Max Verstappen, facing a five-place grid penalty and a turbulent qualifying, ultimately finished 12th, leaving him with a steep challenge in Sunday’s race.

The McLaren driver showcased remarkable control on the slippery track, posting a top time of 1:23.405 in the closing seconds of qualifying. This lap, set in improved conditions, edged him ahead of Mercedes’ George Russell by 0.173 seconds, with Yuki Tsunoda securing a career-best third for AlphaTauri. Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Liam Lawson rounded out the top five.

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This latest pole marks Norris’s eighth of his career and fifth in seven races, underscoring his consistent form this season. His performance provides a prime chance to close the 44-point gap with Verstappen, who struggled throughout the session and faces further setbacks with his grid penalty.

Verstappen's frustrations boiled over after Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll crashed, prompting a delayed red flag that ultimately cut short the second qualifying session. The three-time champion expressed disappointment, criticizing the delay in the red flag decision, which prevented him from advancing further.

Both Red Bull drivers failed to make the top-10 shootout, with Verstappen starting 17th after taking a new engine, and teammate Sergio Perez eliminated in Q2. Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, fresh from his Mexico win, and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton also missed out, with the latter exiting in Q1.

The rain-drenched session saw five red flags, matching a previous record set in 2022. Early incidents halted Q1, and by Q2, drivers switched to intermediate tires as conditions marginally improved. Norris narrowly advanced with a last-minute lap, while Stroll’s crash ended Q2 and cemented the eliminations of Verstappen, Perez, and others.

In the chaotic closing moments, Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin and Alex Albon’s Williams also hit barriers, adding to the intense workload for teams to ready cars for Sunday’s race. The Grand Prix is set to begin at 15:30 GMT, promising a thrilling showdown amid these unpredictable conditions.

Norris secures pole in Brazil; Verstappen will start 17th

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