Wet qualifying gives Lando Norris pole; George Russell hoping rain returns for Sao Paulo Grand Prix race
Norris takes pole in downpour
Norris said qualifying brought some of the wettest conditions he had experienced. He described aquaplaning on the straight and poor visibility, while warning that conditions that dangerous would make racing unsafe.
The McLaren driver had not claimed pole since the Spanish Grand Prix in September. He said upgrades had improved the car, but credited the wet weather and two strong laps for giving him the chance to take first place.
Russell faces grid penalty
Russell was among the two fastest drivers in qualifying, but a five-place grid penalty means the Mercedes driver will start seventh. He believed pole was within reach after backing off on a lap he thought would have been his quickest, having encountered Albon in the middle sector.
Russell said he felt confident in the rain and believed his pace, along with Norris’s, was the strongest. He had dropped from second to fourth in the drivers’ championship after the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Weather could shape the race
Sunday’s forecast calls for light rain, but conditions at Interlagos are difficult to predict. Norris said he enjoys driving in the rain, while cautioning that severe spray and aquaplaning could make a race dangerous.
Fernando Alonso also hopes for wet conditions after reaching Q3 for the first time this year. He said the gap to the car in sixth was 1.8 seconds and cited ongoing concerns with engine drivability and cornering.
Drivers start far back
Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will start 20th and 21st after engine replacements put them over their yearly allowance. Verstappen won the race in wet conditions two years ago after starting 17th.
Liam Lawson and Nico Hulkenberg are on the second row. Charles Leclerc, Hamilton and Verstappen are among those seeking to move forward, although drivers expect overtaking to be harder with this year’s new-style cars.
Key points
- Norris secured pole in wet qualifying at Interlagos.
- Russell qualified among the fastest but will start seventh after a five-place penalty.
- Light rain is forecast for Sunday, though the weather remains unpredictable.
- Hamilton and Verstappen start 20th and 21st after exceeding their engine allowances.