Sao Paulo, Brazil, November 8, 2026: Lando Norris claimed pole position for the 2026 FIA Formula 1 São Paulo Grand Prix after a dramatic, rain-hit qualifying session at Interlagos. The McLaren driver produced a stunning lap of 1:27.470 to beat Mercedes’ George Russell by 0.204 seconds, with Kimi Antonelli completing the top three. Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson impressed with fifth place, while Isack Hadjar qualified seventh for Red Bull.

Norris secured his second consecutive pole position at Interlagos after a qualifying session punctuated by two red flags, a lengthy interruption and rapidly changing weather conditions. With heavy rain making the circuit increasingly treacherous, the Briton’s early effort in Q3 proved decisive as the conditions deteriorated towards the end of the session.

Russell finished second with a time of 1:27.674, while Mercedes teammate Antonelli clocked 1:28.095 to take third, 0.625 seconds behind Norris. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc qualified fourth in 1:28.289, followed closely by Lawson, who delivered one of the standout performances of the afternoon with a 1:28.321.

Nico Hülkenberg secured sixth for Audi, ahead of Red Bull’s Hadjar in seventh. Haas driver Oliver Bearman qualified eighth, Fernando Alonso took ninth for Aston Martin, and Alexander Albon completed the top 10 for Williams.

Two red flags disrupt rain-hit qualifying

The unpredictable weather at Interlagos made its presence felt even before qualifying got properly under way. Q1 began with the circuit already saturated, but the session was red-flagged less than three minutes after the start as heavy rainfall made conditions too dangerous for the drivers.

Following a lengthy interruption, the 22-car field returned on full wet tyres. Limited visibility due to spray and the lack of grip made the opening laps particularly challenging, although the lap times gradually improved as drivers found more confidence.

Max Verstappen initially established himself at the front with a 1:37.932, before Fernando Alonso briefly moved ahead. Verstappen responded, but the likes of Hülkenberg, Lewis Hamilton, Russell and Bearman also took turns at the top of the timesheets.

Russell eventually posted a 1:32.441, but it was Norris who finished Q1 fastest with a 1:30.939.

The six drivers eliminated were Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and Pierre Gasly, Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, and Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto. The latter hit the barriers in the closing stages and was unable to improve his time.

Lawson shines as Câmara and Lindblad exit in Q2

Q2 began with 15 drivers, with Verstappen opting not to participate because of his substantial grid penalty for Sunday’s race. This left Hadjar as Red Bull’s sole representative in the second qualifying segment.

Norris initially returned to the top of the timing screens, but Leclerc subsequently moved ahead with a lap in the 1:29s. The Ferrari driver led Norris, Antonelli, Lawson and Russell as the circuit continued to evolve.

The changing conditions also brought tyre strategy into focus, with drivers beginning to consider switching from full wets to intermediate tyres.

Rafael Câmara, making his Formula 1 debut for Haas, was among those fighting to stay clear of the elimination zone after recovering from an earlier spin. Meanwhile, Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad encountered trouble at Turn 5 and was instructed to stop his car.

Lawson was among the first drivers to switch to intermediate tyres, and the decision immediately paid dividends. The New Zealander surged to the top of the timing screens, establishing a 1.6-second advantage over Bearman before Russell also found considerable time.

However, with less than a minute remaining, Câmara lost control and crashed into the barriers, triggering the second red flag of the session. The interruption brought Q2 to an early conclusion, preventing several drivers from improving their times.

Hamilton was eliminated in 11th, ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in 12th. Câmara finished 13th, followed by Lindblad and Carlos Sainz. Verstappen was classified 16th without setting a representative time in the session.

Norris makes the most of Q3 as rain intensifies

With the remaining 10 drivers returning for Q3, the increasingly dark skies over Interlagos made getting a competitive lap on the board early crucial.

Alonso was first to establish a benchmark on intermediate tyres, posting a 1:30.311. Lawson subsequently went quicker before Norris and Russell moved to the front.

Antonelli initially occupied fourth place, but Norris continued to find time and established himself as the provisional pole-sitter.

The rain then intensified, making the circuit progressively more difficult to negotiate. Russell was particularly frustrated after Mercedes instructed him to abandon his lap, believing he had an opportunity to improve his position.

Norris, however, had already delivered the crucial lap. His 1:27.470 proved unbeatable, securing McLaren pole position for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

The Briton was delighted with the result, particularly given the challenging conditions and the need to make the most of the limited opportunities in Q3.

“It’s been a long day. It’s been a great Qualifying. Obviously, to be on pole again here, it’s different conditions to last year but I’m very happy,” Norris said.

“It’s not easy conditions out there, especially when you know it’s going to rain a lot more. It was about getting two laps in at the beginning and not making any mistakes, and that’s exactly what we did, so it’s been a very good day.”

Grid penalties could shake up Sunday’s starting order

While Norris will start from the front of the grid, the final starting order for Sunday’s race is expected to look significantly different following several grid penalties.

Russell faces a five-place grid penalty, while Leclerc has been handed a 10-place penalty. Hamilton, Verstappen and Perez are also set to start from the back of the grid following their respective power unit-related penalties.

These penalties could create opportunities for several midfield drivers, particularly Lawson, Hülkenberg, Hadjar and Bearman, who all delivered strong qualifying performances.

For Norris, meanwhile, the priority will be converting another Interlagos pole into a race victory as McLaren looks to capitalise on its strong qualifying performance.

With the unpredictable Brazilian weather, a challenging circuit and several major names facing grid penalties, the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix promises to be an intriguing contest.

2026 FIA Formula 1 São Paulo Grand Prix – Qualifying Results

Note: The times and classification above reproduce the supplied qualifying results. Grid penalties may alter the final starting order.