Lando Norris delivered a masterclass under pressure to secure pole position for the São Paulo Grand Prix, strengthening his championship bid as his closest competitors suffered major setbacks.
The McLaren driver, fresh from a sprint race victory earlier on Saturday, produced a flawless final lap in qualifying after an initial error. His performance stood in stark contrast to the fortunes of title rivals Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen.
Piastri, Norris’s teammate, could only manage fourth on the grid. His session was compromised by a costly crash in the morning’s sprint race, continuing a recent run of difficult weekends for the Australian driver.
The drama was even greater for reigning world champion Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver suffered a shocking elimination in the first qualifying segment, setting only the 16th fastest time. Verstappen had expressed frustration with his car’s handling throughout the weekend, describing it as having “zero grip.” His team’s attempts to rectify the car’s instability over the bumpy Interlagos circuit appear to have backfired.
With the pole, Norris has a prime opportunity to extend his championship lead. He currently holds a nine-point advantage over Piastri, with Verstappen a distant 39 points behind. While a comeback from deep on the grid is possible—Verstappen famously won from 17th here in 2022—the Dutchman faces a monumental task on Sunday given his car’s apparent lack of pace.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will start third, with rookie Kimi Antonelli impressing to take second for Mercedes. The session was preceded by concern after a heavy crash for local driver Gabriel Bortoleto in the sprint race. The Brazilian emerged unhurt, but his car was too damaged to participate in qualifying.
Norris, now on a rich vein of form with back-to-back pole positions, acknowledged the tense nature of his lap. “I stayed calm when it mattered and put it all together,” he said. For his rivals, finding answers before lights out on Sunday is now the urgent priority.