Formula 1: McLaren’s Lando Norris Takes Emphatic Pole Position at Sao Paulo Grand Prix
Qualifying Session
McLaren’s Lando Norris took an emphatic pole position at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday after Red Bull rival Max Verstappen qualified only 17th in a wet and crash-strewn session at Interlagos.
Front Row Start
George Russell will join his fellow-Briton on the front row for Mercedes in a qualifying postponed from Saturday due to heavy rain, with RB’s Yuki Tsunoda a stunning third and Alpine’s Esteban Ocon fourth.
Chaotic Session
The race was brought forward to start at 12:30 pm Brazil time, leaving several teams in a race to repair badly damaged cars after a chaotic session halted five times by crashes.
Verstappen’s Disappointment
Formula 1 championship leader Verstappen, who will have a five-place grid drop for an engine change, was caught out in 12th when the second phase of qualifying was halted with 46 seconds remaining.
Norris’s Reaction
"There was a lot going on today, but I’m super, super happy," said Norris of his fifth pole in the last seven races. "You saw how many people were going off and crashing and locking up. It was easy to end up badly, end up in the wall or do something where you might not even make the race later today."
Other Qualifying Results
New Zealand’s Liam Lawson qualified fifth for RB with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc sixth and Alex Albon seventh for Williams despite a big crash in the final phase while second on the timesheets. The car was seriously damaged in a major blow for Williams, who also had Argentine rookie Franco Colapinto spin into the tyre wall with 8 minutes 50 seconds remaining of the first phase.
Conclusion
The qualifying session was marked by chaos and crashes, with several drivers struggling to navigate the wet and slippery conditions. Despite the challenges, Norris emerged victorious, taking his fifth pole in the last seven races. The race is set to start at 12:30 pm Brazil time, with Verstappen facing a tough task to recover from his disappointing qualifying performance.
FAQs
Q: Why was the qualifying session postponed from Saturday?
A: The qualifying session was postponed due to heavy rain.
Q: Who qualified on the front row?
A: Lando Norris and George Russell qualified on the front row.
Q: Why did Verstappen qualify only 17th?
A: Verstappen was caught out in the second phase of qualifying and was unable to improve his time.
Q: What was the most notable crash of the qualifying session?
A: Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz spun into the barriers with 5 minutes 51 seconds remaining of phase two, bringing out the red flags.