Norris Secures Pole in Brazilian GP Sprint Qualifying
Lando Norris secured pole position in the sprint qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos. His impressive lap time of 1:09.243 placed him at the front of the grid for the upcoming race on Saturday.
Norris Takes Championship Lead
This pole finish comes as Norris aims to solidify his lead in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship. He recently overtook McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri following a dominant victory at the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks prior.
Currently, Norris and Piastri are separated by just one point in the standings. The contest for points is crucial, especially with only four races remaining in the season. Points are awarded to the top eight finishers, with distributions of 8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1.
Qualifying Highlights
- Norris finished 0.097 seconds ahead of Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
- Oscar Piastri qualified 0.185 seconds behind Norris.
- Max Verstappen, a contender in the championship, qualified in sixth place, expressing frustration over car issues.
- George Russell of Mercedes and Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin qualified between Piastri and Norris.
Notable Performances
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc could only manage eighth place, and Lewis Hamilton failed to advance beyond the middle qualifying session, finishing 11th. This was particularly disappointing for Hamilton, who won his first championship at this circuit in 2008.
Rookies also made headlines. Isak Hadjar, a strong candidate for the season’s rookie title, qualified in ninth position. Meanwhile, Gabriele Bortoleto, racing on home soil, struggled, finishing 14th.
Other Qualifying Details
- Oliver Bearman from Haas qualified 15th.
- Franco Colapinto confirmed his continued role at Alpine for 2026 but could not progress through SQ1.
- Yuki Tsunoda from Red Bull faced challenges and qualified 18th after an earlier incident in practice.
With just a few races left, Norris’s pole position is a critical step toward maintaining his lead in the championship. The dynamics at Interlagos will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in the outcome of the season.
