Norris takes Sao Paulo pole after rain delay as penalties reshape grid

Lando Norris took pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix for the third consecutive year after a qualifying session interrupted for nearly 90 minutes by dangerous wet conditions. BBC Sport reported that the McLaren driver finished ahead of George Russell, whose five-place grid penalty promoted Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli to the other front-row position.

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The interruption came after officials initially attempted to begin the session in conditions that proved too severe. Russell described a lack of visibility on the straight towards Turn Four and said his car was aquaplaning and suffering wheelspin in fifth gear at more than 200km/h. He said comparable conditions during a race would present an unacceptable risk of a serious accident. Norris described the session as among the wettest he had experienced.

For Norris, it was a first pole since the Spanish Grand Prix in September. He acknowledged that McLaren's upgrades had improved the car but credited the rain with providing an opportunity that he did not believe would have existed in dry conditions. He said the team had managed qualifying well and that he had delivered two strong laps, despite difficulty distinguishing wet patches and puddles in the final session.

Russell believed a communication error had cost him the fastest qualifying time. After encountering Alex Albon in the middle sector, he was told to abandon a lap because Mercedes expected there would be time for another attempt before heavier rain arrived. That assessment proved wrong, according to BBC Sport. His penalty nevertheless meant that even the quickest time would not have secured pole on the starting grid.

The weather and penalties produced several notable grid positions. Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson and Audi's Nico Hulkenberg occupied the second row, with Haas driver Oliver Bearman sixth. Fernando Alonso and Albon were listed eighth and ninth after both reached the final qualifying segment for the first time in 2026. Alonso said cold tyres had limited his grip during that final session.

Engine penalties also moved Ferrari's Charles Leclerc from fourth in qualifying to 14th on the grid. Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen were listed 20th and 21st after exceeding their engine allocations. Hamilton required another replacement after his newly fitted engine failed during final practice, adding to Ferrari's difficulties before qualifying.