Keystone
The next round of the title fight is shaping up to be a long-distance duel. Lando Norris in the McLaren starts the São Paulo Grand Prix from pole position after a turbulent qualifying session, Max Verstappen in the Red Bull only from 17th place.
It was still raining in São Paulo, so the conditions were anything but ideal. However, the rainfall was less than on Saturday, when it had not allowed qualifying. Nevertheless, the task for the drivers was difficult enough – sometimes even too difficult.
This was evidenced by several (minor) slips off the track, as evidenced in particular by the incidents involving Carlos Sainz in the Ferrari, Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll in the Aston Martin and Alexander Albon and Francon Colapinto in the Williams. The quintet found themselves in the barriers after spinning and caused their mechanics a lot of extra work.
The weather turned the drivers and other team members into early risers. Because the race organizers brought the start of the Grand Prix forward by an hour and a half to 12.30 pm (4.30 pm Swiss time), qualifying began at 7.30 am local time. The decision was based on forecasts predicting that the rain would become heavier again during the course of Sunday.
Advantage for Norris
The turbulence on the track also left its mark on the starting grid – even more clearly in Norris’ favor with regard to the two candidates for the title win. While the Briton created the ideal starting position for himself by claiming pole position, his eighth for a Grand Prix, Max Verstappen was one of the biggest losers.
The world champion in the Red Bull finished 12th in qualifying, but only managed 17th on the grid for the race, having been demoted five places due to an engine change that exceeded the permitted quota. The disappointing result was not only self-inflicted. Stroll’s accident just under a minute before the end of the second part of the qualifying session prevented the Dutchman from beating his lap time in better conditions.
Norris had the opportunity to make up further ground on Verstappen, who was leading the overall standings. The Englishman was 44 points behind the three-time world champion ahead of the fourth-last Grand Prix of the season.
Norris’ compatriot George Russell in the Mercedes completed the front row. Surprisingly, Japan’s Yuki Tsunoda in the Visa, Frenchman Esteban Ocon in the Alpine and New Zealander Liam Lawson lined up behind him.
Valtteri Bottas fueled Team Sauber’s hopes of its first tangible result of the season. The Finn secured 11th place on the grid, which was the second-best result in qualifying this season. Bottas had started the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai from 10th on the grid. Zhou Guanyu, on the other hand, was also unable to improve in these conditions. Once again, the Chinese driver had to line up at the back of the grid.
SDA
