Sao Paulo GP: Norris Dominates Sprint Qualifying as Hamilton Falls Short
British driver Lando Norris has positioned himself strategically in the title race by claiming pole for Saturday’s Sprint at Interlagos, narrowly beating Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri. The result marks Norris’ continued dominance, transforming a 34-point deficit to Piastri into a one-point lead with just four races remaining in the 2025 season.
Qualifying at the Sao Paulo GP saw Norris set two impressive laps, securing the top spot by 0.097 seconds over Antonelli and nearly two tenths ahead of Piastri. His performance highlights McLaren’s strong pace, particularly in the twisty middle sector of Interlagos, where Red Bull struggled to match their rivals. Max Verstappen, the reigning champion, finished sixth, 0.337s behind Norris, with his team’s straight-line speed proving insufficient in the event of anticipated rain on Saturday—a factor that could favor higher-downforce setups.
Hamilton’s elimination in SQ2 added a layer of tension to the weekend. The seven-time world champion was unable to improve his time due to a late spin by Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, which triggered a safety car and halted the session. Hamilton now faces scrutiny for a potential speeding violation under yellow flags and will miss the Sprint, compounding his challenges in the championship battle.
Other notable results include George Russell in fourth for Mercedes, Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) in fifth, and Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) in seventh. Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson, both speculated to be in a seat battle for 2026, were knocked out in 18th and 16th positions, respectively, following a difficult day that included Tsunoda’s crash in Practice.
“It was a little tougher than I’d hoped, with close competition and Mercedes showing strong pace on the soft tire,” Norris remarked. “We balanced pushing hard with managing the car’s setup, and today’s result is a solid start for the weekend.”
Sky Sports F1 commentator Martin Brundle praised Norris’ performance, stating, “He found an overdrive again when he needed it most. This is a tremendous afternoon for Lando Norris.”
Verstappen, meanwhile, expressed frustration with his car’s handling, citing “vibrations” and “grip issues” during his struggle to keep pace with McLaren. With the championship tightly contested, the Sprint on Saturday (2pm, live on Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports Main Event) and the main race at 6pm will be pivotal for Norris and his rivals.
- 1. Lando Norris – McLaren
- 2. Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes
- 3. Oscar Piastri – McLaren
- 4. George Russell – Mercedes
- 5. Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin
- 6. Max Verstappen – Red Bull
- 7. Lance Stroll – Aston Martin
- 8. Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
- 9. Isack Hadjar – Racing Bulls
- 10. Nico Hulkenberg – Sauber
Viewers are encouraged to use the Chrome browser for optimal access to video content. Meanwhile, Alpine’s Franco Colapinto, who confirmed his 2026 stay with the team, finished 16th in his first race since the announcement, underscoring the competitive nature of the grid.
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