Lando Norris claimed pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix on Saturday, navigating a rain-soaked and challenging Interlagos circuit to outpace his rivals. The session was significantly disrupted by heavy downpours, which forced a red-flag delay lasting over an hour.
Norris set a fastest lap of 1:27.470 on intermediate tyres during the final Q3 shootout. Mercedes driver George Russell finished second, two tenths of a second behind, while newly-crowned world champion Kimi Antonelli qualified third.
The grid for Sunday's race will see significant changes due to various penalties. Russell carries a five-place grid penalty for a power unit change, and Charles Leclerc, who qualified fourth, faces a 10-place penalty for a similar engine component replacement.
These penalties promote Liam Lawson to third place on the starting grid. The Racing Bulls driver delivered a standout performance throughout the session, providing a timely boost to his prospects as the team evaluates its driver lineup for the future.
Nico Hulkenberg secured sixth position for Audi, followed by Red Bull's Isack Hadjar and Haas driver Oliver Bearman. Fernando Alonso and Alex Albon completed the top 10, rounding out a session defined by standing water and difficult grip levels.
The qualifying session began under worsening conditions, leading to an immediate red flag as drivers struggled with aquaplaning. After the lengthy delay, the track conditions improved slightly, allowing for a competitive dash to set the final grid order.
Several high-profile drivers faced disappointment during the earlier segments. Lewis Hamilton, who is already set to start from the back of the grid due to a power unit penalty, was eliminated in Q2, as was Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who also carries an engine penalty.
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