12th time of the second qualifying session of the Brazilian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen will start from 17th place on the grid after receiving a 5 place penalty. His main rival Lando Norris will start on the front row.
The Briton Lando Norris, currently second in the Formula 1 world championship, will start in pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix ahead of his compatriot George Russell (Mercedes), second in qualifying postponed to Sunday due to rain, and very far ahead of the leader Max Verstappen, 17th.
On the once again soggy Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo, the second row went to the Japanese Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls), who will start on Sunday from 12:30 p.m. local time (4:30 p.m. French) just ahead of the Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Alpine), 4th. Author of the 12th best time in qualifying but having received a sanction of five places due to a change of driving force, Verstappen will only start from a distant 17th place (out of 20).
The Dutchman only managed the 12th time, ahead of his Red Bull teammate Sergio Pérez only 13th, while only the first ten are qualified for Q3, where pole position is at stake. Verstappen was notably the victim of a red flag at the very end of Q2, stopping him in his attempt to snatch his ticket into the Top 10.
Indeed, less than a minute from the end of Q2, Canadian Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) was the victim of an off-track, leading to the third red flag of the morning, and the premature end of this second part of qualifying. “Mad Max” can however hope to move up the hierarchy, especially as rain – in which the Dutchman can perform well – is expected for the GP.
In the championship, he is 44 points ahead of his British rival Lando Norris (McLaren) before the traditional Sunday Grand Prix, at the end of which up to 26 points will be up for grabs.
