The second day at Interlagos proved crucial for the championship, and Lando Norris was undoubtedly the standout performer. After winning the Sprint Race, the British driver doubled up by taking pole position for the main race, marking his second time starting from the front row in Brazil. His McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, however, endured a difficult Saturday, missing out on the front row and being beaten by Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Max Verstappen was the notable absentee, eliminated in Q1, forcing him to start from the back of the grid.
Norris: “Staying calm keeps me at my best. Antonelli will be a challenge”
For the championship leader, the weekend so far has been perfect: two pole positions and a Sprint Race win. After his victory in Mexico, Lando Norris seems determined to maintain his lead. In qualifying for the main race, he set the fastest times in Q1, Q2, and Q3. Despite this, he acknowledged the challenges during the session, particularly the slippery track conditions. Norris said he made a mistake on his first Q3 lap, adding extra pressure, but managed to put together a strong final attempt. The British driver also noted the advantage of seeing his main rivals’ results, with Oscar Piastri only fourth and Max Verstappen sixteenth. “The team has given me a great car,” he commented. “When I have good rhythm and stay calm, I can put it all together and feel at my best.”
Norris also highlighted the threat posed by Kimi Antonelli, who consistently pushed him in both the Sprint and qualifying sessions. “Kimi will push until the end, so the race will be a big challenge. The weather has been stable so far, so I hope it stays that way tomorrow,” he added.
Piastri: “I hope to use the car’s strength to my advantage in the race”
Oscar Piastri tried to recover from his Sprint Race mistake by securing a place on the second row for the main race, a minimum result given the points lost earlier in the day. “It was a complicated session with difficult conditions, and the track didn’t improve much from Q1,” Oscar Piastri reflected. “It was tough to shave off time, and I didn’t get the maximum out of the car.” The Australian knows he will need a full-attack approach during the race, facing both a Ferrari and a Mercedes ahead of him. “All I can do is try to gain positions. Our car is competitive this weekend, so I hope to take advantage of that,” he added.
Verstappen eliminated in Q1: “We had no grip, couldn’t handle a single corner”
The biggest shock in qualifying was Max Verstappen, who has struggled all weekend. The reigning world champion was eliminated in Q1, along with teammate Yuki Tsunoda, due to a lack of grip in the RB21. Max Verstappen described the session as extremely difficult, noting that he could not perform even a single corner properly. This marked the first time in four years that he failed to advance past the first qualifying round. To keep his championship hopes alive, Verstappen will need a strong recovery in the race, possibly taking advantage of a fresh Power Unit for the remaining races. “We need to understand the problems we faced first, then decide on next steps,” he told Sky Sport regarding engine strategy.
The Brazilian GP qualifying at Interlagos has set the stage for an intriguing race: Lando Norris starts from pole with momentum, Antonelli and Leclerc look ready to challenge, Oscar Piastri must fight to regain ground, and Max Verstappen faces a tough recovery from the back. Championship dynamics are set to intensify as the race unfolds.
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