Norris on pole in the rain, Verstappen trapped in Q2 and Ocon 4th!

Where to start? With pole position, perhaps! Lando Norris will indeed be the poleman of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, this Sunday at 16:30 p.m. (French time). The driver McLaren was indeed able to escape the many traps that this qualifying session held in the rain, only five hours before the start of the race and punctuated by five red flags, had in store. The Englishman will start ahead of a compatriot, since George Russell snatched the front row on the gong after a great effort.

Lando Norris has come a long way, having come very close to disappointment in Q1. The Briton qualified in 15th place in Q1, narrowly missing early elimination. However, he gained confidence as the session progressed and the intermediate tyres became the most effective. He was then clearly the strongest, setting the fastest time by 2/10ths. He will have a golden opportunity to take back big points at Max Verstappen in the title race, since the Batavian was trapped in Q2.

Behind the Norris-Russell duo, it was a huge surprise (or rather three) that we witnessed! Yuki tsunoda (3rd) and Liam Lawson (4th) both secured a place in the top 5, thanks to a well-conducted session despite a small scare each. The two men will be separated on the grid by a Frenchman, since Esteban Ocon, always at ease when the sky cries, has hoisted his Alpine in 4th position with a master's hand. The Norman signs his best qualification of the season and will try to bring back big points to the A arrow this Sunday evening.

The rest of the top 10 is completed by the unfortunates of Q3. Charles Leclerc is in fact only 6th, trapped by a yellow flag in the first sector on his fast lap. Behind, Alex Albon is theoretically 7th but it is difficult to imagine the Thai being able to start from his position given the state of his car, after the crash he suffered at the end of Q3 at the first corner. Oscar piastri, who was in the top 3 for most of the session, missed the last attempt and will only start 8th. Fernando Alonso et Lance stroll, both qualified for Q3 but made mistakes (in Q3 for Alonso, in Q2 for Stroll), will share the 5th row.

Verstappen eliminated in Q2, Hamilton in Q1

Q2 was the crossover moment between the maxi rains used in Q1 and the intermediates, which Oscar Piastri was the first to prove were the fastest at the halfway point of the session. It was also the moment when Carlos Sainz (14th) made a mistake in the Senna Esses, losing the grip of his car in turn 2, when switching to green rubber. The mechanics of the Team Will they have time to repair the damage in time?

More importantly in the fight for the title, Max Verstappen will start 17th after his elimination in Q2 (12th + 5 penalty places). The Dutchman had not completed his last fast lap when Lance Stroll went off at turn 3. The world champion was caught out by the timing and will try to limit the damage. Elimination in Q2 also of Pierre Gasly (15th), Checo Perez (13th) and Valtteri Bottas (11th), which marks its second best qualification of the year after China.

Known to be skilled in the rain, Lewis Hamilton created a surprise by being eliminated in the first segment of qualifying (16th). The Englishman beat the young drivers Oliver Bearman (17th) and Franco Colapinto (18th). The Argentinian was in fact the only one to make a mistake to the point of touching the wall and having to put his foot down, resulting in an elimination in Q1. He will nevertheless start in front Nico Hulkenberg, again beaten by Bearman, and Guanyu-Zhou, last as often lately.

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