Here we are, the qualifying sessions for the Brazilian GP are about to begin, despite the heavy rain that fell in Interlagos, which postponed the start of the session, enclosing qualifying and the race in a single day.. A day like yesterday conditioned by rain, which complicates everything. A race against time in which every mistake is paid double.
After McLaren's domination in the Sprint Qualifying and in the Sprint Race, in dry sessions the balance seemed to be leaning towards the Woking team. Oscar piastri and Lando Norris showed extraordinary form, taking the front row and confirming McLaren as the force to beat on this track also in the Sprint race. Ferrari and Red Bull in pursuit, aware that they must raise the bar to stay in the running this weekend in Brazil.
Ma From now on we start from scratch, and the rain, which arrived like clockwork on the Brazilian circuit, could change everything, giving us a race in which values no longer count.
The rain doesn't let up, Q1 on the wire for everyone, Hamilton out, Norris saves
In these conditions it is really difficult to make predictions. Everyone has taken to the track with full wet tyres for this extraordinary qualifying session for the Brazilian GP. The goal is to stay on track and set a time, considering that with these conditions, which are worsening, the action on the track could stop again. Lots of yellow flags, lots of excursions from the track. With these unpredictable conditions a red flag was inevitable. Franco Colapinto ended up in the wall due to aquaplaning, and with 9 minutes to go and a ninth position gained, he lost control of the car, ending his session. Bad news for Williams with Albon currently the first of the excluded. Perfect timing instead for Charles Leclerc, who managed to qualify in second position a few seconds before the red flag. After the interruption the track worsened, but it was imperative to set a time to qualify for Q2. Especially for the two Mercedes, both out.
Super time instead for Yuki Tsunoda, the fastest on the track at 6 minutes at the end of Q1. At the restart everyone struggles to improve in the last sector, Piastri moves up to P5 behind Tsunoda, Leclerc, Ocon and Perez. Albon also improves, moving to safety by moving up to P7. George Russell also moves up to P3, Hamilton remains among the excluded. A session to forget for the 7-time world champion. The first part of the qualifying of the Brazilian GP thus ends: The eliminated are Hamilton, Bearman, Colapinto, Hulkenberg, Zhou. Lando Norris is saved by just two tenths, closing Q1 in fifteenth position.
Q2 begins with intermediate tyres, Sainz hits the wall and Verstappen is eliminated
Q2 opens with a slightly drier track, Red Bull excels in these conditions unlike McLaren which suffers more than usual. Oscar Piastri makes an attempt on the intermediates and takes the best time with a fair advantage over Verstappen. The Australian driver's lap confirms the feeling of the teams who are starting to fit the intermediates, which are faster in these conditions. With the intermediates not everyone immediately finds the right feeling, Sainz ends up in the barrier and it's red flag again. A hard blow for Ferrari from a constructors' perspective. Especially considering that in 4 hours we'll be back on track for the race.
Meanwhile, the situation continues to be unsettled for McLaren with Lando Norris once again at risk of exclusion.
Once the barriers were restored and Sainz's SF-24 was removed, the final attempts began again. Norris improved and was safe in third place. Leclerc did not improve, remaining in a dangerous area. Aston Martin performed well, with Alonso taking the best time, which was only taken away from him by Lando Norris. Q2 however foresees a final huge twist, Max Verstappen remains excluded together with Sergio Perez because Stroll goes off the track and hits the wall, forcing the marshals to give a red flag that ends Q2. Therefore excluded Bottas, Verstappen, Perez, Sainz, Gasly. Furious Max Verstappen who was competing, so far an excellent qualifying in these conditions. We also remember that Verstappen will have to serve a penalty of 5 positions in the race, and will therefore start 17th. McLaren has both cars in Q3, with no other opponents than Charles Leclerc.
Q3, last attempt, two more red flags and Norris takes Pole
Here we go, final shot. Everyone is looking for the perfect lap, Charles Leclerc pays half a second from Oscar Piastri only in the first sector, but improves in the second, placing himself in second position behind Lando Norris. However, George Russell steals the position from him. In the meantime Esteban Ocon improves, taking the Pole for a few moments. Norris, however, takes back first place when Q3 is suddenly interrupted again. Fernando Alonso hit the wall this time. Q3 currently has the following order: Norris, Albon, Piastri, Ocon, Russell, Leclerc, Tsunoda, Lawson, Alonso, Stroll passed despite the accident.
With 6 minutes to go, the session resumes. McLaren wants the first row, Norris doesn't improve but remains first. The action doesn't last long, however, Albon violently ends up in the wall and calls for the fifth red flag of qualifying. The Thai driver's car is destroyed, it will be almost impossible for him to start the race. Great job by Williams, with two cars crashed 3 hours into the race.
The stewards choose to continue with the session for the last 3 minutes. There are 7 drivers left on the track.
Lando Norris with a twist of the tail takes Pole Position in Brazil! George Russell and an extraordinary Yuki Tsunoda follow in third place. Esteban Ocon takes fourth place, Lawson fifth. Charles Leclerc finishes in sixth place. Piastri does not improve and finishes in eighth place far from his teammate.
And now a nerve-wracking wait begins because in a few hours we will be back on track for the race. Will the drivers who ended up in the wall manage to get back on track in time?
