McLaren’s Lando Norris took pole position for Saturday’s sprint race at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, marking what he described as a “good start” to the weekend as he continues his fight for the Formula 1 championship title.
The Briton delivered a near-flawless qualifying performance, edging Mercedes’ rising star Kimi Antonelli by just 0.097 seconds. Norris’ McLaren teammate and championship rival Oscar Piastri qualified third, 0.185 seconds adrift, setting up another tense intra-team battle.
Norris, who leads Piastri by just one point in the standings after his victory at the Mexico City Grand Prix two weeks ago, appeared pleased but cautious following his qualifying run. “We have to prepare for both conditions,” he said, acknowledging the unpredictable weather that could define the sprint.
The sprint race, scheduled for 14:00 GMT (11:00 local time), could be significantly impacted by overnight storms. Forecasts predict heavy rain and high winds on Saturday morning, conditions that may drastically alter team strategies. “I expect the morning to be heavy rain and incredibly windy,” Norris said. “Let’s wait and see what happens.”
Despite his strong pace in the dry, Norris admitted there was still room for improvement. “The car has been performing well,” he added. “Not nice enough that I’m happy about everything. Some things to improve on for qualifying. Sprint race, if I can cruise to victory that would be beautiful.”
Behind the McLaren duo, Mercedes enjoyed a strong session with Antonelli impressing in second and George Russell claiming fifth place. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso qualified fourth, continuing his late-season resurgence.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the only other realistic title contender trailing Norris by 36 points, struggled to find speed and could only manage sixth. The Dutchman was visibly frustrated after the session, suggesting setup issues hampered his qualifying effort.
Verstappen’s performance leaves him with a challenging task in the sprint, where overtaking opportunities at Interlagos are limited, particularly if rain hits. However, with championship points on offer, the Red Bull driver cannot afford another off-day.
As teams prepare for changing track conditions, tyre strategy is expected to play a decisive role. Should the race start wet, the timing of a switch to slicks could determine the outcome. McLaren’s pace advantage in the dry gives Norris a crucial edge, but unpredictable weather could easily level the field.
For Norris, Saturday presents both an opportunity and a risk. A sprint victory could extend his slender championship lead, but a single mistake in treacherous conditions could undo his recent momentum.
Regardless of the weather, fans can expect an exciting sprint at Interlagos, where history has often delivered drama, skill, and unexpected twists — and where Lando Norris hopes to once again come out on top.
