F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix: Norris takes pole as penalties scramble grid
Lando Norris will start from pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after a rain-affected qualifying session at Interlagos.
Lando Norris secured pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Grid penalties for engine changes have moved George Russell, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez down the order.
Key takeaways
- Lando Norris earned pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos.
- The qualifying session was rain-affected and delayed by nearly an hour and a half.
- George Russell qualified second but will start seventh after a five-place grid penalty.
- Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will start at the back because of engine penalties.
- The grand prix takes place on Sunday at 17:00 GMT.
Lando Norris has taken pole position for the F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos in Brazil. Yahoo Sports reported that the McLaren driver topped the timesheets in qualifying, finishing ahead of George Russell in heavy rain. The BBC said the session was delayed by nearly an hour and a half because of the downpour.
Grid shaken up by penalties
Norris earned pole position for a third consecutive time in Brazil. Mercedes’ George Russell qualified second but will drop to seventh with a five-place grid penalty for taking a new internal combustion engine. World champion Kimi Antonelli will now start alongside Norris on the front row.
Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson and Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg were promoted to the second row in third and fourth respectively. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton will start at the back because of their own penalties for fitting new engines.
Yahoo Sports said grid penalties for Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Sergio Perez have scrambled the grid behind polesitter Lando Norris.
Championship context
The 2026 Formula 1 season heads from Mexico City straight to Interlagos in Brazil for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, from 6-8 November. With four races remaining in the 2026 F1 season, the starting order could have a major impact on the championship fight.
Mercedes leads Ferrari by 126 points in the constructors championship. The BBC reported that a maximum of 129 points remain available after Sao Paulo. Mercedes would need to outscore Ferrari by at least three points to win the title this weekend.
This would be Mercedes’ ninth constructors’ championship victory after winning the title eight years in a row between 2014 and 2021.
Race outlook
The 2025 Sao Paulo Grand Prix was held on 9 November 2025 at the Interlagos Circuit in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
It was the twenty-first round of the 2025 Formula One World Championship and the fifth of six Grands Prix in the season to utilise the sprint format. Lando Norris of McLaren took pole position for the sprint and main race, converting them both to wins.
In the sprint, the podium was completed by Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. The podium of the main race was completed by Antonelli and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the latter having started from the pit lane.
Interlagos has hosted the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in recent years, including the 2025 edition. The race has previously used the sprint format, with the 2025 event featuring both a sprint and a main race won by Norris.
What happens next
Lights out for the grand prix on Sunday, which could see more rain, is at 17:00 GMT. The race, which starts at 2pm local time, is forecast for light showers and a moderate breeze, with a high temperature of 17C.
Commentary of the race will be available across BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport website and app. You can also ask your smart speaker to "play 5 Sports Extra". Make sure to listen to every episode of the Chequered Flag podcast.
For the first time this year, the post-race show for every grand prix is available to watch on BBC iPlayer and YouTube.
Sao Paulo Grand Prix starting grid implications
Driver | Team | Qualifying position | Grid penalty | Expected starting position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lando Norris | McLaren | 1 | None | 1 |
George Russell | Mercedes | 2 | Five places | 7 |
Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | Not specified | Engine penalty | Back |
Max Verstappen | Red Bull | Not specified | Engine penalty | Back |
Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | Not specified | None | 2 |
Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | Not specified | None | 3 |
Nico Hulkenberg | Audi | Not specified | None | 4 |
Related on Apex Sports News
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