Max Verstappen claimed pole at the São Paulo Grand Prix, the twentieth round of the season, as qualifying at the Interlagos circuit unfolded under a stormy sky. The Dutch driver, aiming to extend his remarkable season with a 17th win, clocked the fastest lap before rain forced the red flag and halted the session. Charles Leclerc secured second on the grid, followed by the two Aston Martins of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso, who redeemed recent setbacks in Austin and Mexico.
Mercedes, fastest at this track last year and the team that roared onto the podium through Russell and Hamilton, dropped to fifth and sixth in qualifying. Carlos Sainz couldn’t deliver the result he hoped for and headed into Sunday’s race in eighth. The Red Bull duo of Verstappen and teammate Sergio Perez remained ready to pounce, with the Madrid-born driver keen to capitalize on any slip by rivals.
The day began with a single free practice session led by Ferrari, as Leclerc and Sainz topped the charts. A fifteen-minute delay in qualifying cleared debris after drivers reported screws and stones on the asphalt. The track condition drew sharp criticism from drivers who argued it did not meet Formula 1 standards. Alonso, alongside Hamilton, was among the drivers who encountered the bumpy surface in the morning session.
Norris set a strong early benchmark in Q1 with a 1:10.623, earning him a spot in the next round. Leclerc then improved to 1:10.472, with Piastri just 0.047 seconds behind. Alonso and Sainz pushed hard to secure a place in the next phase amid looming rain threats at the Autódromo Jose Carlos Pace.
Q1: Aston Martin’s experiment pays off
The session concluded with Tsunoda eliminated, and Hamilton facing potential sanctions for blocking drivers behind him as several others, including Ricciardo, Bottas, Sargeant, and Zhou, pushed to advance to Q2. Aston Martin had tested two different setups in Free Practice 1, applying a uniform package to the AMR23s, and the strategy paid off as Alonso and Stroll emerged among the top seven in Q1. Despite struggles for Sainz, Russell posted the provisional fastest time of 1:10.340, with Verstappen close behind and Leclerc not far off.
Q2: Alonso and Sainz push through
Verstappen, not quite as fluid as at other venues, shaved three tenths from his Q1 time on his first run in the McLarens, while Norris and Piastri followed. Sainz, armed with new soft tires, jumped to second place, edging Russell. Hamilton faced a unsettled balance in the Mercedes that hindered his pace. Alonso held on to a solid fourth in Q3’s landscape, aiming to rebound after recent poles in Austin and Mexico.
Norris then posted the quickest time of 1:10.021, leading the field with Verstappen and Alonso close behind. Sainz and Ferrari gambled by taking another set of tires for a potential extra lap, but the strategy did not pay off as others improved. Hülkenberg, Ocon, Gasly, Magnussen, and Albon failed to advance beyond this stage.
Q3: Verstappen seals pole amid pressure from rivals
The pole shootout began as the weather threatened to intervene, with overcast skies and the approach of rain spurring teams to secure a clean lap early. Alonso, occupying the first slot, posted a time that placed him fourth. Verstappen unleashed his strongest lap to take pole with a time of 1:10.727. Leclerc, Stroll, and Alonso lined up behind him, while Sainz and Piastri faced a tougher row as the track began to flood and Mercedes and Red Bull trailed the leaders.
A red flag halted proceedings when water started to flood the pit lane as the session matured, effectively ending the qualifying with Verstappen atop the order. This marked Verstappen’s eleventh pole position of the season, solidifying his advantage as race day approached.
As teams rebuild and strategize for Sunday, the Interlagos circuit promises an intense battle in the race. Verstappen holds a strong position to extend his lead, with Leclerc, Alonso, and Stroll in pursuit. Critics and fans alike will watch how the weather and tire choices influence the final outcome, and whether any unexpected drivers can challenge the dominant Red Bull squad. [CITATION: F1 official results and race notes]
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