Lando Norris has prevailed after a rain-affected qualifying in São Paulo. After a delayed start, the outgoing world champion held his nerve, traded fastest laps with the Mercedes and eventually snatched pole by nearly two tenths of a second. With rain expected on race day, Norris will have to rely on his considerable abilities in the rain if he’s to secure a 14th career win. Behind him, George Russell put in a fine performance. An increase in rain at the end of Q3 prevented any final runs on the intermediate tyres. As a result, Russell couldn't mount a final bid for pole and was openly frustrated with P2. Having incurred a five-place grid penalty for taking his sixth engine of the season, Russell will start seventh for the race.
Kimi Antonelli had solid form but was ultimately unable to match the leading duo. He ended the session third, four tenths off his teammate, but will start on the front row on race day. With the drivers’ championship now sealed and the constructors' title all but secured for Mercedes, Antonelli is well placed to challenge for the win.
Charles Leclerc had the measure of his teammate, stayed out of trouble and qualified fourth but will start 14th having taken on fresh power unit components and received a ten-place grid penalty. Liam Lawson put in a fine performance to take fifth but, with Russell and Leclerc set for grid drops, he will start the race third, equalling his best-ever qualifying performance.
Nico Hülkenberg set some blistering times in Q1 and Q2 to sail into Q3. The Audi driver secured his best qualifying result of the season in 6th but will start fourth. His best starting position since Abu Dhabi 2024. Isack Hadjar was the first driver to switch to intermediate tyres in Q2 and secured seventh in Q3, ahead of Ollie Bearman, who survived a couple of offs to take eighth. The heavy rain gave Fernando Alonso the chance to sneak into Q3 for the first time this year and eventually take ninth ahead of Alex Albon.
Lewis Hamilton fell short of a Q3 appearance but will start from the back of the grid, having received the same grid penalty as his teammate and undergone further engine changes after an issue in FP3. This, along with the aforementioned penalties, will be of some consolation to Oscar Piastri, who missed out on Q3 for the second time in as many weekends but will start tenth. Debutant Rafael Câmara had a baptism of fire and crashed out in Q2, while Arvid Lindblad was 14th-fastest, ahead of Carlos Sainz. Max Verstappen didn’t set a time in Q2, but that will be of little consequence as he too will start from the back of the grid due to an engine change.
Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly both failed to make it out of Q1, as did the two Cadillacs. Valtteri Bottas outqualified his teammate Sergio Perez for the ninth time this season.
Gabriel Bortoleto had a frustrating session. A crash in Q1 ended the local hero’s session early and relegated him to 22nd. In theory, tomorrow’s race should be a straight fight between Norris and Antonelli. However, with rain expected to return, several frontrunners starting out of position and established rain masters Hamilton and Verstappen at the back, this year’s São Paulo Grand Prix looks set to be an enthralling one.
