With Max Verstappen only qualifying for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in 16th place, Lando Norris secured another crucial pole position on the big day of the F1 title race.
Norris, who won Saturday’s sprint while his closest rival in the championship Oscar Piastri crashed out, overcame a slump in the first run of Q3 to take back-to-back pole positions at a crucial stage of the season as Piastri dropped to fourth.
The British driver has a chance to widen his nine-point lead over Piastri and the 39-point lead over Verstappen, who was eliminated in Q1 on pure pace for the first time in his 10-year F1 career.
Red Bull changed the car’s set-up after Verstappen found himself in no-man’s land en route to fourth place in the sprint, but it didn’t pay off and the reigning world champion will need to repeat his impressive come-from-behind victory at Interlagos 12 months ago to stay in title contention.
That means Norris is now a firm favorite to win, especially if he can turn his sixth pole position of the season into a victory during lights out at 5pm on Sunday (3.30pm build-up) live on Sky Sports F1.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Lando Norris takes pole position at Sao Paulo GP, Antonelli takes second place and sprint front row
As in the Sprint, Kimi Antonelli started on the front row alongside Norris, becoming the third youngest driver to start from the top two grid positions.
Charles Leclerc was third, but will start 13th after a disappointing season after his Ferrari teammate Lewis Hamilton was eliminated in Q2.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton loses Q2 at Sao Paulo GP
For the Racing Bulls, Isaac Hajjar finished fifth, Liam Lawson finished seventh, and George Russell split second place in sixth place.
Haas’s Oliver Bearman looked like a potential pole candidate at one point, but with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg in the top 10, he finished in a tough 8th place in Q3.
Hiroki Tsunoda was also eliminated in Q1 along with Verstappen, marking the first time since 2006 that both Red Bulls were eliminated in the first half of qualifying.
Home hero Gabriel Bortleto missed qualifying after suffering a huge crash on the final lap of the sprint and escaping unscathed.
How Norris asserted Brazil’s superiority
According to Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle, Norris continued his strong form with a “lap of the champion”.
He led in all three segments of qualifying, but had his work cut out for him after locking up in Turn 1 in his first Q3 run, finishing 10th with Piastri on provisional pole.
McLaren sent Norris out earlier than usual to ensure he avoided early yellow and red flags, and Norris took pole position by 0.174 seconds with a clean lap.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
McLaren CEO Zak Brown says he would rather cede the driver’s championship title to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen than support one of his drivers.
“It’s slippery and inconsistent, but it was a lot of fun. Always fun on this course. I felt good,” Norris said.
“I was feeling a little bit of pressure because I locked up on the first lap, so it was a little more pressure than I expected, but I stayed calm and put everything together when it mattered. I’m very happy.”
Leclerc and Antonelli both improved and chased down Piastri, who had dropped to fourth place, 0.375 seconds behind pole-sitter Norris.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Oscar Piastri crashes in Sao Paulo GP sprint at crucial moment of world championship
Piastri may not have been able to push his car as hard as Norris after a dramatic crash in the sprint, but he faces the possibility of dropping points to his teammate for the sixth race in a row.
Antonelli continued to be the quickest of the Mercedes pair in his first outing at Interlagos and could become Norris’ biggest rival on Sunday.
“I’ll start tomorrow in second place, but of course they’re very fast, so it’ll be important to get a good start and build up a good pace,” said the 19-year-old Italian.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Sao Paulo GP sprint highlights
What did Verstappen do wrong?
Verstappen’s remarkable return to the championship could be all but over, barring a Brazilian miracle. Verstappen suffered his seventh Q1 exit and the first time he was completely out of pace.
After failing to challenge McLaren and Mercedes in the sprint, Red Bull changed Verstappen’s set-up, which helped him get over bumps but didn’t give him grip.
When the Dutchman pushed, he oversteered significantly and was forced to underdrive, resulting in him being eliminated from Q1 by 0.066 seconds.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Max Verstappen loses Q1 at Sao Paulo GP, father Jos Verstappen rushes out of Red Bull garage
“It was just bad. I couldn’t push at all,” Verstappen told Sky Sports F1.
“The car was rolling all over the place and was sliding a lot. I had to underdrive quite a bit to get a moment. Of course that doesn’t work in qualifying.”
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
A baffled Max Verstappen admitted he “couldn’t understand” how his car could be so “bad” after being eliminated in Q1 at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Red Bull brought floor upgrades to the final race in Mexico, but even there they were not as competitive as they were in the previous race, which saw Verstappen return to title contention.
It’s also possible that Red Bull chooses to change Verstappen’s set-up overnight, which would violate parc fermé regulations and force the Dutchman to start from the pit lane.
Sky Sports F1 Sao Paulo GP Schedule
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
A look back at some of the most dramatic moments that happened at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Sunday, November 9th
3:30pm: Sunday’s Grand Prix: Sao Paulo GP Build-up
5pm: Sao Paulo Grand Prix
7pm: Checkered flag: São Paulo GP reaction
8pm: Ted’s Notes
F1’s thrilling title race continues in Brazil with the São Paulo Grand Prix at 5pm on Sunday, broadcast live on Sky Sports F1 from 3.30pm. Stream Sky Sports now – cancel anytime with no contract
