Lando Norris secured pole position for the sprint race of the Formula 1 São Paulo Grand Prix, held at the Autódromo de Interlagos, this Friday (7). The British McLaren driver clocked a time of 1min09s243, beating Kimi Antonelli, from Mercedes, by just 0s097. Oscar Piastri, Norris’ teammate, came third, while Brazilian Gabriel Bortoleto, F1 debutant, will start 14th in Saturday’s race (8), at 11am. The race for the world title remains fierce, with Norris leading the championship by just one point ahead of Piastri.
Sprint qualifying training was marked by McLaren’s consistency, which dominated the three phases (SQ1, SQ2 and SQ3). Norris led from the start, while Antonelli surprised by securing second position. Max Verstappen, another title contender, faced difficulties with his Red Bull and came in sixth. Bortoleto, supported by the Brazilian fans, advanced to SQ2, but failed to reach the top 10.
McLaren Performance
Norris confirmed his favoritism after leading the morning free practice. His time in SQ3 was unbeatable, consolidating McLaren’s strength at Interlagos. Piastri, despite a small error on the first lap of SQ3, recovered and secured third place, maintaining pressure in the internal fight for the title.
Surprise from Antonelli
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli impressed by outperforming experienced drivers. His fast lap in SQ3 put him on the front row, ahead of fourth-placed George Russell. The Italian, who had already shone in the Miami sprint, reinforces his potential in short racing formats.
Estreia de Bortoleto em casa
Gabriel Bortoleto, primeiro brasileiro na F1 desde 2017, recebeu grande apoio da torcida em Interlagos. Ele avançou ao SQ2 com o nono melhor tempo, mas uma volta menos competitiva no segundo segmento o deixou em 14º. Apesar do resultado, sua performance inicial animou o público, que exibiu bandeiras em sua homenagem. O piloto da Sauber destacou a emoção de correr em casa pela primeira vez. Bortoleto agora foca na corrida sprint para ganhar experiência antes da prova principal no domingo.
Dificuldades de Verstappen
Max Verstappen, com 321 pontos no campeonato, enfrentou problemas com o carro da Red Bull, especialmente no segundo setor de Interlagos. O holandês, 36 pontos atr�According to Norris, he classified the situation as “frustrating” and will start sixth. The rain forecast for Saturday could further complicate your strategy. Red Bull seeks adjustments to improve performance in the main race.
Other highlights
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) surprised with fifth place, showing consistency.
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) was eliminated in SQ2 after a mistake by Charles Leclerc, starting 11th.
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) closed the top 10, while Carlos Sainz (Williams) had a difficult day, in 20th.
Expectations for the sprint
The sprint race, with 24 laps, promises to intensify the title dispute between Norris, Piastri and Verstappen. The possibility of rain on Saturday could change strategies and favor drivers with better adaptation to adverse conditions. McLaren, already constructors’ champion, seeks to consolidate its strength, while Bortoleto will try to advance positions in front of the fans.
