Heavy rain, lengthy delays and crashes involving Brazilian drivers Gabriel Bortoleto and Rafael Câmara dominated Saturday’s qualifying session. Norris kept his composure in treacherous conditions, setting the fastest lap of 1:27.470. Russell was second quickest for Mercedes but faces a five-place grid penalty following an engine change, promoting his teammate Antonelli to the front row.
Torrential rain brings lengthy stoppage
Heavy downpours had already left the circuit waterlogged before qualifying was scheduled to begin. Thunderstorms swept across São Paulo, with large amounts of standing water accumulating in the lower sections of the track.
The session initially got underway but was red-flagged after approximately two minutes. Several drivers reported aquaplaning and poor visibility, prompting race control to conclude that conditions were too dangerous for racing to continue.
The safety car made repeated inspection laps before the drivers were finally allowed back onto the circuit following a delay of around 84 minutes. Although the rain had eased by then, the track remained completely wet.
Norris masters the treacherous conditions
Conditions gradually improved after the restart, with grip increasing as more laps were completed. Full wet tyres were initially the preferred choice, but intermediates soon became the faster option as the racing line began to dry.
Norris adapted superbly to the changing conditions and topped the timesheets in Q1. Russell and Antonelli also demonstrated early on that Mercedes had the pace to challenge in the wet.
For home favourite Gabriel Bortoleto, however, qualifying ended in the barriers. The Audi driver lost control of his car in the final sector and crashed into the trackside barriers, damaging his rear wing in the process. Unable to complete another lap, Bortoleto finished Q1 at the bottom of the standings.
Franco Colapinto, Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll and Cadillac drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez were also eliminated in the opening segment.
Max Verstappen, meanwhile, progressed to Q2 but elected not to complete any further laps. Red Bull had already replaced several power unit components ahead of final practice, leaving the Dutchman facing a substantial grid penalty. With a back-of-the-grid start effectively inevitable, there was little incentive to take additional risks in such difficult conditions.
Verstappen had actually been quickest in the third practice session, posting a 1:11.622 to beat Antonelli by just 0.025 seconds. Norris finished third, 0.131 seconds off the pace.
Haas debutant Câmara crashes out in Q2
Rafael Câmara took centre stage during the second qualifying segment. The 21-year-old Brazilian is making his Formula 1 Grand Prix debut for Haas this weekend, standing in for Esteban Ocon.
Reaching Q2 was already an encouraging achievement for the rookie, particularly after he had survived a spin in the opening segment that damaged his Haas. Repairs allowed him to return to the track and secure a place in the second part of qualifying.
Lap times continued to tumble in Q2. Russell set the pace with a 1:26.745, while Liam Lawson also impressed in his Racing Bulls. The New Zealander clocked a 1:27.049, underlining his strong performance in the challenging conditions.
Shortly before the end of the session, however, Câmara lost control of his Haas at Turn 12. The Brazilian slid off the circuit and struck the barriers, bringing out another red flag. Race control subsequently decided not to restart Q2.
That decision denied several drivers the opportunity to improve their lap times. Oscar Piastri was among the biggest casualties, managing only 12th place in the second McLaren. Lewis Hamilton, Arvid Lindblad and Carlos Sainz also failed to reach Q3.
Fernando Alonso, by contrast, made it into the top ten. The Aston Martin driver took advantage of the difficult conditions to secure a promising position for Sunday’s race.
Norris strikes before the rain returns
Another rain front was approaching Interlagos as the final qualifying segment began. Teams therefore rushed their drivers onto the circuit, hoping to complete a competitive lap before conditions deteriorated again.
Russell initially set the benchmark with a 1:27.674, but Norris responded almost immediately with a 1:27.470 to move into provisional pole position. Antonelli also produced an impressive performance, slotting into third behind his Mercedes teammate.
Russell might have had another opportunity to challenge for pole, but he was instructed to slow down on a flying lap because of Alexander Albon ahead of him. The British driver reacted angrily, frustrated at losing what he believed was a promising chance to improve.
Heavy rain returned shortly afterwards, forcing the drivers back into the pits. With further improvements effectively impossible, the battle for pole was over.
Norris had done enough to secure his third consecutive pole position at Interlagos, his fourth of the season and the 20th of his Formula 1 career.
Russell finished qualifying second, ahead of Antonelli, Charles Leclerc and Lawson. Nico Hülkenberg, Isack Hadjar, Oliver Bearman, Alonso and Albon completed the top ten.
Rain could prove decisive on race day
A series of grid penalties means Sunday’s starting order will look considerably different from the qualifying classification. Russell drops five places to seventh after Mercedes fitted an additional internal combustion engine.
Leclerc also faces a ten-place penalty following an engine change and will therefore start 14th. Verstappen, Hamilton and Pérez have been hit even harder by extensive power unit changes, leaving all three at the back of the grid.
Hamilton had already struggled with serious engine problems during final practice. After the Ferrari driver reported vibrations and subsequently smoke in the cockpit, the team decided to replace his entire power unit before qualifying.
The penalties have particularly benefited Lawson and Hülkenberg, who will share the second row of the grid. Hadjar and Bearman move up to fifth and sixth respectively.
Norris will start the Grand Prix in the strongest possible position, although Antonelli has an opportunity to put the McLaren under pressure from second place on the run down to the opening corner. For the newly crowned world champion, Sunday’s race offers the chance to celebrate his first Grand Prix since securing the title with another victory.
Verstappen and Hamilton, meanwhile, face the challenge of fighting their way through the field. Overtaking opportunities are plentiful at Interlagos, but another wet race could make their recovery drives considerably more difficult, with poor visibility and the risk of incidents adding to the challenge.
The São Paulo Grand Prix gets underway on Sunday at 17:00 GMT (18:00 CET) and will be contested over 71 laps. Mercedes could also clinch the constructors’ championship ahead of schedule, provided they extend their advantage over Ferrari by at least three points.
With further rain forecast, tyre selection, pit-stop strategy and the timing of any switch between compounds could prove just as important as outright pace.
Starting grid: 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix
P1 – Lando Norris – McLaren
P2 – Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes
P3 – Liam Lawson – Racing Bulls
P4 – Nico Hülkenberg – Audi
P5 – Isack Hadjar – Red Bull Racing
P6 – Oliver Bearman – Haas
P7 – George Russell – Mercedes
P8 – Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin
P9 – Alexander Albon – Williams
P10 – Oscar Piastri – McLaren
P11 – Rafael Câmara – Haas
P12 – Arvid Lindblad – Racing Bulls
P13 – Carlos Sainz – Williams
P14 – Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
P15 – Franco Colapinto – Alpine
P16 – Pierre Gasly – Alpine
P17 – Lance Stroll – Aston Martin
P18 – Valtteri Bottas – Cadillac
P19 – Gabriel Bortoleto – Audi
P20 – Max Verstappen – Red Bull Racing
P21 – Sergio Pérez – Cadillac
P22 – Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari
