Formula 1 News: Norris wins pole for the 2025 Sao Paulo GP

Lando Norris delivered a masterclass in damp conditions at Interlagos to claim pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos, capping off a dream Saturday that saw him dominate the sprint race and extend his drivers’ championship lead to nine points over teammate Oscar Piastri. The British driver’s blistering lap of 1:09.511 not only locked in the top spot but also underscored McLaren’s unbreakable form heading into the season’s final stretch.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

Fresh off converting sprint pole into a commanding victory earlier in the day, Norris controlled proceedings from the outset in qualifying. His final Q3 effort was a thing of beauty, threading the needle through the twisting Senna S and the high-speed DRS zone with surgical precision. “Not at my best, but good enough today,” Norris admitted post-session, downplaying the heroics while hinting at untapped potential for Sunday’s 71-lap dash. With Piastri’s championship hopes taking a hit, Norris now eyes a maximum haul to solidify his grip on the title.

Piastri’s day, however, turned into a nightmare of his own making during the sprint. The Australian, chasing his teammate aggressively, dipped a tyre onto the treacherous wet kerb at Turn 6, sending his MCL39 into a wild spin before slamming into the barriers in a plume of debris. It was a spectacular but costly error, handing Norris unchallenged sprint glory and dropping Piastri to fourth on the grand prix grid behind Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. “The best thing I can do at the moment is try and move on from what’s happened and try and have a good weekend,” Piastri said stoically, his silence in the immediate aftermath speaking volumes about the frustration of gifting away crucial points.

Mercedes enjoyed a strong rebound with rookie sensation Antonelli securing a front-row start in second, his late push edging out Leclerc by a mere 0.023 seconds. The 19-year-old Italian, making waves in his debut season, has now outqualified veteran George Russell in three of the last four grands prix, including this weekend where Russell gambled on medium tyres in a bid for extra grip but faltered to sixth. Leclerc, meanwhile, delivered a flawless lap to nab third, keeping Ferrari’s constructors’ fight alive despite Lewis Hamilton’s dismal Q2 exit in 13th – a stark contrast for the seven-time champion now adapting to life in scarlet.

Further down the order, Racing Bulls punched above their weight with Isack Hadjar stunning in fifth, outpacing Russell with a gritty lap that showcased the French-Algerian’s raw talent. Teammate Liam Lawson backed him up in seventh, sandwiching Haas’ Oliver Bearman in eighth. The British youngster, fresh off a breakout rookie year, flirted with the top three in Q2 but couldn’t find the improvements needed in his final Q3 run, settling for a solid midfield slot.

Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Kick Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg rounded out the top 10, with Gasly’s clean sector times proving the difference in a tight battle for Q3 survival. But the session’s biggest shock came from Red Bull, where defending champion Max Verstappen – a four-time Interlagos winner – tumbled out in Q1 to start 16th, his first such exit since 2021. Citing a chronic lack of grip, Verstappen vented over team radio: “Oh my god mate – the car and the ride is a tiny bit better… but the slide into turn one. I have no grip, zero! Brilliant!” Teammate Yuki Tsunoda fared even worse in 19th, leaving Red Bull’s garage in stunned silence as McLaren’s rivals falter.

As the sun sets over the vibrant São Paulo skyline, all eyes turn to Sunday’s grand prix. For Norris, it’s a chance to bury the title fight; for Piastri, redemption; and for Verstappen, a Herculean recovery. Interlagos, with its history of chaos and glory, promises another unforgettable chapter.

2025 Sao Paulo GP Qualifying Results