After the cancellation of the GP qualifying in São Paulo, many fans asked themselves: What happens in the premier class if there is no qualifying, but the race can be? How is the starting lineup formed?
No final training for the São Paulo Grand Prix on November 2nd. Now, according to Formula 1’s plan, qualifying and the Grand Prix are to be driven in close succession on Sunday, November 3rd, everything brought forward because even more rain is to be expected in Brazil.
The FIA’s plan: Qualification at 11:30 a.m. (European time, which is 7:30 a.m. in Interlagos), race at 4:30 p.m. (12:30 p.m. in Brazil).
But many GP fans are wondering: What if qualifying cannot take place because of the weather, but a window is found for the Grand Prix to take place? What should a starting lineup look like then?
Simple answer: This is at the discretion of the race stewards. In Brazil these are Gerd Ennser (Germany), Andrew Mallalieu (Barbados), Johnny Herbert (Great Britain) and Luciano Burti (Brazil).
More complicated answer: There are two possible solutions. Because we find two passages in the regulations that could apply.
Article 39.4b states that drivers who are considered unclassified will be lined up in the order of the third training session; on sprint weekends, the order of the first training session applies.
This rule would be bad for Max Verstappen, who only finished 15th in the first training session. The Dutchman has to fall five places in Brazil due to the installation of new engine parts, which would mean he would be last. And of all people, his World Cup rival Lando Norris could start from pole.
However, we had the sprint qualifying in Brazil on November 1st, so it’s not like we don’t have any classified riders. According to Article 42.3, the race stewards could also use the qualification for the sprint; Oscar Piastri was fastest ahead of Norris, then Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen. With his penalty, Max would then have to move back from 4th on the grid to P9.
For 2025, this problem is solved differently: the regulations for the coming years include the starting line-up according to the World Cup status.
If the formation of the starting grid is at the discretion of the race stewards, they could also choose the result of the sprint or the World Championship standings as a basis.
But let’s hope we see a qualification.
Sprint, São Paulo
01. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, 29:46.045 min
02. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, +0.593 sec
03. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +5,656
04. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, +6,497
05. Carlos Sainz (L), Ferrari, +7,224
06. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +12,475
07. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, +18,161
08. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +18,717
09. Liam Lawson (NZ), Racing Bulls, +20,773
10. Alex Albon (T), Williams, +24,606
11. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +29,764
12. Franco Colapinto (RA), Williams, +33,233
13. Stephen Ocon (F), Alpine, +34.128
14. Oliver Bearman (GB), Haas, +35.507
15. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, +41,374
16. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Sauber, +43.231
17. Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, +54,139
18. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, +56,537
19. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +57,983
Out
Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, gearbox
World Championship standings (after 20 of 24 Grands Prix and 5 of 6 Sprints)
driver
01. Verstappen 367 points
02. Norris 323
03. Leclerc 297
04. Plates 258
05. Sainz 244
06. Hamilton 189
07. Russell 180
08. Pérez 151
09. Alonso 62
10. Hulkenberg 31
11. Stroll 24
12. Tsunoda 22
13. Magnussen 14
14. Albon 12
15. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 12
16. Gasly 11
17. Oliver Bearman (GB) 7
18. Colapinto 5
19. Ocon 5
20. Lawson 2
21. Zhou 0
22. Logan Sargeant (USA) 0
23. Bottas 0
Constructors’ Cup
01. McLaren 581 points
02. Ferrari 547
03. Red Bull Racing 518
04. Mercedes 369
05. Aston Martin 86
06. Haas 46
07. Racing Bulls 36
08. Williams 17
09. Alpine 16
10. Sauber 0
All sprint winners
Silverstone 2021 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing
Monza 2021 – Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Mercedes
Interlagos 2021 – Valtteri Bottas (FIN), Mercedes
Imola 2022 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing
Red Bull Ring 2022 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing
Interlagos 2022 – George Russell (GB), Mercedes
Baku 2023 – Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing
Spielberg 2023 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing
Francorchamps 2023 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing
Qatar 2023 – Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren-Mercedes
Austin 2023 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing
Interlagos 2023 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing
Shanghai 2024 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing
Miami 2024 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing
Spielberg 2024 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing
Austin 2024 – Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing
Interlagos 2024 – Lando Norris (GB), McLaren
