Lando Norris Claims Sao Paulo Pole; Piastri Fourth, Verstappen 16th
Lando Norris emerged as the pole sitter for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, showcasing impressive performance throughout the qualifying sessions. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, will start in fourth position, while reigning champion Max Verstappen will begin the race from 16th place.
Qualifying Highlights
The qualifying sessions revealed a competitive atmosphere, with various drivers vying for the top positions.
Top Performers
- Lando Norris – Pole position
- Oscar Piastri – Fourth place
- Max Verstappen – 16th place
- Antonelli – Strong showing, finishing behind Norris
Antonelli, a promising driver, expressed his disappointment about finishing behind Norris despite a close battle throughout the sessions. He stated, “We were so close again behind him, very tough to put the lap together with the wind.”
Other Notable Qualifying Results
- George Russell (Mercedes) – Fifth place
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – Sixth place
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – Seventh place
- Oliver Bearman – Eighth place, praised his team’s competitiveness
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – Ninth place
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) – Tenth place
- Lewis Hamilton – Eliminated in Q2, starting 13th
Cautions and Challenges
Gabriel Bortoleto will start from 20th position due to damage sustained in a high-speed crash at the end of the pit straight during the sprint race. His Sauber could not be repaired in time for qualifying.
Drivers faced challenging conditions, particularly with wind impacting their performance. Oliver Bearman noted that while he felt strong during the qualifying sessions, the track did not evolve as much as expected, leading to some unexpected results.
The stage is set for an exciting race in Sao Paulo, with Norris leading the pack and competitors eager to capitalize on their starting positions.
