Norris Secures Sprint Pole in Interlagos, Verstappen Struggles

Lando Norris seized pole position for the Sprint at the 2025 FIA Formula 1 São Paulo Grand Prix, putting him in a strong position against rivals Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen. The McLaren driver topped Sprint Qualifying ahead of Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli and teammate Piastri, while Verstappen could only manage a surprising sixth place for Saturday's 24-lap race.

Why it matters:

This result gives Norris a crucial advantage over his championship rivals in the Sprint, potentially allowing him to extend his lead or consolidate his position. Verstappen's uncharacteristically low grid slot in sixth could open the door for McLaren and Mercedes to capitalize, adding significant intrigue to the São Paulo Sprint and potentially influencing the main Grand Prix grid.

The details:

• SQ1 Highlights: Piastri initially set the benchmark, but Verstappen quickly surpassed him. Norris then dominated the session, setting the fastest lap at 1:09.627. Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso secured third, with Bearman and Hadjar also showing strong pace.
• Key Eliminations in SQ1: Franco Colapinto, Liam Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda, Esteban Ocon, and Carlos Sainz were all eliminated. Sainz notably expressed dissatisfaction with his team's session execution.
• SQ2 Drama: Gabriel Bortoleto briefly led, but Alonso surprisingly topped the session with a 1:09.330, just ahead of Norris. Verstappen struggled with a "scruffy middle sector," placing him in eighth. Leclerc's spin in the middle sector caused yellow flags, which prevented several drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, from completing their final flying laps. Hamilton was later noted for a possible yellow flag infringement.
• SQ3 Decider: Norris continued his dominant form, taking provisional pole early with a 1:09.271. He then secured pole with an even faster lap of 1:09.243 after a final charge. Antonelli slotted into second, less than a tenth behind, with Piastri in third.

The big picture:

McLaren's strong performance, with both drivers in the top three, underscores their potential to challenge Red Bull. Mercedes also showed promising pace, with Antonelli securing a front-row start. Verstappen's difficulties in Sprint Qualifying, marked by a shake of the head and clear frustration, suggest that the championship battle could be far more open in São Paulo than in recent races.

What's next:

The Sprint race on Saturday will be crucial. Norris will aim to convert his pole into maximum points, while Antonelli and Piastri will be eager to challenge for the win. All eyes will be on Verstappen to see if he can make significant progress from sixth place. Hamilton's potential yellow flag infringement could also lead to post-session penalties, further shaking up the grid.