McLaren secures front row dominance as Piastri claims pole, setting up a thrilling F1 Sprint at Interlagos with Norris alongside.
After a single free practice session, it was already time for the first qualifying session at Interlagos for the São Paulo Grand Prix. The competitive order remained a complete mystery after just one session, marked by tight margins and a challenging track surface.
Indeed, the Interlagos asphalt emerged as a major disappointment in this initial hour of testing, with drivers encountering a bumpy, uneven surface despite expectations of an improvement in the track’s notorious roughness.
With four teams in the top five and eight teams in the top eleven during Free Practice, it’s hard to identify a clear favourite for this first serious timed session of the weekend. Additionally, the field was separated by just 1.3 seconds, making every mistake potentially decisive.
However, McLaren F1 appeared in strong form, as did Mercedes and Ferrari. Max Verstappen and Red Bull trailed behind, while Oliver Bearman impressively placed himself in the top three, standing in for Kevin Magnussen at Haas, at least for the start of the weekend.
SQ1 – 12 minutes – Medium tyres
Under increasingly changeable and deteriorating weather, the Ferrari drivers were the first to take to the track, with Charles Leclerc setting the best time at 1:11.654, while Carlos Sainz positioned himself six-tenths behind his teammate. Lance Stroll and Valtteri Bottas slotted between them.
Pierre Gasly bettered Leclerc’s time with a 1:11.630, only for Esteban Ocon to surpass it with a 1:11.520. But Sergio Pérez soon topped them with a 1:11.162, followed closely by Alex Albon with a 1:11.015. George Russell then accelerated to a 1:10.870.
The track was evidently evolving, aided by the cars sweeping it and the dropping temperatures. Lewis Hamilton fell just a tenth short of his teammate, though he reported tricky brakes to manage.
Lando Norris took the lead with a 1:10.672, only for Liam Lawson to best him with a 1:10.576. Oscar Piastri went quicker with a 1:10.265, while Verstappen was on a fast lap. Nico Hülkenberg slotted into second, with Verstappen in fourth.
Franco Colapinto’s lap time was deleted for track limit infringements. With rain showers nearing the circuit, the Ferrari drivers went back out. Leclerc climbed to second, with Sainz securing fourth.
Verstappen moved into second, and Pérez placed just ahead of his teammate. Tsunoda advanced to 12th, Leclerc reclaimed position over the Red Bulls, and Alonso took 11th place. Stroll secured 15th, and Bearman achieved an impressive fifth, just ahead of Hülkenberg.
Gasly set the 11th fastest time, with Ocon recording the 15th, but he was eliminated as Bottas moved up to 13th. Norris achieved the fastest time overall with a 1:09.477, while Albon placed third and Colapinto ninth.
Those eliminated were Alonso, Ocon, Tsunoda, Stroll, and Zhou.
SQ2 – 10 minutes – Medium tyres
During SQ1, it was announced that Charles Leclerc would need to appear before the stewards. The FIA remains firm in its disciplinary actions and seeks to address Leclerc’s use of the word “Fuck” during the press conference following the Mexican GP, despite his immediate apology and discussion with an official.
Russell initially set the fastest lap with a 1:09.683, but Norris quickly took the top spot with a session-best 1:09.063. Sainz slotted in, and Leclerc positioned just behind Russell but ahead of Gasly and Bottas. Piastri recorded the third-fastest time.
Verstappen achieved the second-best time despite noting his car “doesn’t turn” in Turn 4, while Pérez could only manage eighth on his first attempt. Albon moved into eighth, with Hamilton in tenth.
The Williams drivers did not attempt another lap as Colapinto was already in the elimination zone. Hülkenberg took ninth, and Bearman climbed to an impressive fifth place.
Russell posted only the sixth-fastest time, while Lawson took ninth. Gasly improved but remained eighth. Pérez was called back to the pits before completing his lap: “We’re not going to make it, come in.”
Piastri moved up to second, underscoring McLaren’s strong pace. Leclerc recorded the third-fastest time, while Hamilton could do no better than 11th, narrowly saving Albon.
Those eliminated were Hamilton, Hülkenberg, Pérez, Colapinto, and Bottas.
SQ3 – 8 minutes – Soft tyres
Undoubtedly, Pérez’s latest subpar performance, especially as Lawson advanced to Q3, will not go unnoticed within Red Bull. Special mention goes to Bearman, who outperformed Hülkenberg in this Sprint Qualifying.
Norris, Piastri, and Albon headed out on track, likely as a precaution against potential rain. The Australian driver posted a 1:09.225, which was soon surpassed by Norris with a 1:08.928. Albon logically slotted into third with a time of 1:10.078.
All drivers returned for another fast lap, except Albon. Bearman made a small error at Turn 2, while Gasly completed his run with the third-fastest time, and Bearman positioned himself fourth. Lawson squeezed between Bearman and Albon.
However, Bearman’s time was deleted due to his error at Turn 2. Sainz moved into third, and Leclerc placed himself between the McLaren pair. Piastri edged out Norris with a 1:08.899. Norris did not finish his lap, while Verstappen closed with the fourth-best time, and Russell ended in sixth.
Piastri will start on pole for the Sprint, with Norris alongside, marking an all-McLaren front row. Leclerc will start third, followed by Verstappen, Sainz, and Russell, with Gasly and Lawson behind, and Albon and Bearman rounding out the top ten.
| Pos. | Driver | Team | SQ1 | SQ2 | SQ3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren Mercedes MCL38 | 1:10.265 | 1:09.239 | 1:08.899 |
| 02 | Lando Norris | McLaren Mercedes MCL38 | 1:09.477 | 1:09.063 | 1:08.928 |
| 03 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari SF-24 | 1:10.388 | 1:09.248 | 1:09.153 |
| 04 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Honda RBPT RB20 | 1:10.409 | 1:09.489 | 1:09.219 |
| 05 | Carlos Sainz | Ferrari SF-24 | 1:10.503 | 1:09.500 | 1:09.257 |
| 06 | George Russell | Mercedes W15 | 1:10.479 | 1:09.683 | 1:09.443 |
| 07 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine Renault A524 | 1:10.630 | 1:09.610 | 1:09.622 |
| 08 | Liam Lawson | RB Honda RBPT VCARB 01 | 1:10.576 | 1:09.827 | 1:09.941 |
| 08 | Alex Albon | Williams Mercedes FW46 | 1:10.366 | 1:09.844 | 1:10.078 |
| 10 | Oliver Bearman | Haas Ferrari VF-24 | 1:10.442 | 1:09.629 | – :—.— |
| — | —————- | ————— | ———- | ———- | ———- |
| 11 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes W15 | 1:10.625 | 1:09.941 | |
| 12 | Nico Hülkenberg | Haas Ferrari VF-24 | 1:10.466 | 1:09.964 | |
| 13 | Sergio Pérez | Red Bull Honda RBPT RB20 | 1:10.392 | 1:10.024 | |
| 14 | Franco Colapinto | Williams Mercedes FW46 | 1:10.470 | 1:10.275 | |
| 15 | Valtteri Bottas | Stake F1 Kick Sauber C44 | 1:10.861 | 1:10.595 | |
| — | —————- | ————— | ———- | ———- | ———- |
| 16 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin Mercedes AMR24 | 1:10.978 | ||
| 17 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine Renault A524 | 1:11.052 | ||
| 18 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB Honda RBPT VCARB 01 | 1:11.121 | ||
| 19 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin Mercedes AMR24 | 1:11.280 | ||
| 20 | Guanyu Zhou | Stake F1 Kick Sauber C44 | 1:12.978 |
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McLaren Dominates: Piastri and Norris on Sprint Front Row McLaren Dominates: Piastri and Norris on Sprint Front Row
