Norris on pole in rain-hit Brazil for third year in a row

SAO PAULO: Lando Norris put his McLaren on pole position for the third year in a row at the Sao Paulo Formula One Grand Prix on Saturday in tough conditions after a long delay caused by torrential rain at Interlagos.

George Russell qualified second fastest for Mercedes, 0.204 slower, but dropped down the grid due to a five-place penalty, with his newly-crowned world champion teammate Kimi Antonelli replacing him alongside last year's race winner and champion.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc was fourth fastest but has a 10-place grid drop due to power unit changes, which meant Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson will start third and Audi's Nico Hulkenberg fourth.

With the rain getting heavier and leaving no chance for anyone to improve on their times in the final phase, the clock ticked down for the last five minutes without a car on track.

"Today is about getting on pole. It doesn't really matter how you do it, so very pleased with that," said Norris after a qualifying that started and was then halted for nearly an hour and a half.

Rain began falling shortly after the end of the third practice session and intensified before qualifying. Drivers left the pitlane as scheduled, but a red flag was brought out as aquaplaning conditions were reported.

Renowned for dramatic wet races and qualifying sessions, the Sao Paulo track has been the scene of memorable moments in recent years, including Max Verstappen's victory from 17th on the grid in 2024 and Kevin Magnussen's surprise pole for Haas in 2022.

"It was very tricky, I didn't really know what to expect. I've never driven here in the wet so didn't know what was coming... Did a big mistake, nearly went off in Turn 5, but still enough for P3 so happy with that," Antonelli said.

RUSSELL ANGRY AFTER ABORTED LAP

Russell was furious not to be fastest, wanting to make a statement despite knowing he had a penalty but having to abort his quick lap when he came up behind Williams' Alex Albon.

"Mate, you told me to back off! What the hell?" he shouted over team radio after realising his day was done. "P2. I don't want to be P2. I want to be P1."

Isack Hadjar will line up fifth for Red Bull, with Oliver Bearman sixth for Haas. Russell will start seventh and Alonso judging the conditions to finish eighth as Aston Martin reached the final phase for the first time this season.

Albon qualified ninth and McLaren's Oscar Piastri 10th.

Red Bull's four-times champion Verstappen, with a 30-place grid penalty due to power unit changes, sat out the second phase that was red-flagged when Haas debutant Rafael Camara crashed.

"More of a lesson learned for tomorrow," Camara said. "I don't think it was a very serious mistake. It's a corner that doesn't leave much room for error, and it was also my first time on intermediate tyres."

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, who will also be starting at the back of the grid due to engine penalties amounting to an impossible 65-place drop, also went out.

There was then a further delay to clear debris before the decisive third phase.

Conditions had eased in Q2, with double world champion Alonso leaning on his experience and the first to switch to intermediates.

Camara earlier had the home crowd roaring when he reached the second phase but fellow-Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto had a nightmare for the second year running when he went off and qualified last.

Bortoleto slid into the tyre wall with seven minutes to go but returned to the track and made his way back to the pits where the damage proved too extensive to fix in the time available.

"I messed up. It looks like home race for me hasn't been good yet," the Brazilian said.

Both Alpines also went out at the first hurdle along with the two Cadillacs and Aston Martin's Lance Stroll. - Reuters