F1 Brazil GP LIVE: Sprint qualifying results and grid as Oscar Piastri snatches pole position
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris resume their battle for the drivers’ title, with Ferarri closing in on McLaren
The F1 season resumes in Sao Paulo in the Brazil Grand Prix after more drama between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris last week in Mexico City with the Briton cutting his rival’s lead.
Carlos Sainz stormed home to land victory at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez to bolster Ferrari’s hopes of beating out McLaren and Red Bull in the constructors’ championship.
The Spaniard bids to further enhance his reputation before his Scuderia departure, with Lewis Hamilton poised to join in 2025.
Hamilton, meanwhile, endured another setback as he continues to struggle head-to-head with Mercedes teammate George Russell and will be determined to pick up form before the season and his time with the Silver Arrows is out.
Follow all the latest practice updates and build-up to sprint qualifying at the Brazil Grand Prix below:
SPRINT QUALIFYING REPORT: Lando Norris pipped to pole by Oscar Piastri in Brazilian GP sprint qualifying
Lando Norris will start Saturday’s sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix from second after he was bumped off pole position by McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri.
Norris looked set to land top spot only to be gazumped by Piastri with the Australian’s final throw of the dice.
Piastri finished just 0.029 seconds clear of Norris who failed to improve on his final lap.
However, Norris will line up two places clear of title rival Max Verstappen after the Red Bull man could manage only fourth, three tenths off the pace. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc starts third for Saturday’s 24-lap dash to the chequered flag.
Lando Norris pipped to pole by Oscar Piastri in Brazilian GP sprint qualifying
Norris looked set to land top spot only to be gazumped by Piastri with the Australian’s final throw of the dice
F1 Brazilian GP LIVE: Lewis Hamilton after qualifying P11...
“It was pretty bad, same in every qualifying for me. I’ve got no confidence in the car. The ride was pretty bad, the track has been resurfaced.
“FP1 was like Baku 2022 for the car. We changed the car, through corners the thing is hoping. It’s very hard to drive.
“It is what it is, I’m not massively bothered. If I can move forward in the sprint, so be it.”
F1 Brazilian GP LIVE: Ollie Bearman reacts after qualifying P10..
F1 Brazilian GP LIVE: George Russell after qualifying P6...
“It was the same for everyone, the track was so bumpy. A challenging session - P6 is where we’re at as a team. Could be better, could be worse.
“We’re at the back of the front pack. There’s a pace delta to the front.”
F1 Brazilian GP LIVE: Max Verstappen after qualifying P4 for the sprint...
“The car was a bit difficult on the bumps. They did the resurfacing but it’s more difficult to drive, the car is jumping around a lot and costing me a lot of lap time.
“When you’re quite a bit off on one lap, we’re not the strongest in the race. There’s some weather around. For the penalty, I have a bit more work to do!”
F1 Brazilian GP LIVE: Lando Norris after qualifying P2...
“A big improvement to earlier today, we’ve spoken a lot. Surprised we were so quick, made some mistakes on my final lap and boxed. A pleasant surprise.
“I don’t care about where Max qualifies, for me I focus on my own job. Tomorrow is a different day, we’ll see. We made some good steps forward. Happy with today, we’ll see in the sprint tomorrow.”
F1 Brazilian GP LIVE: Oscar Piastri after claiming pole position...
“My first lap didn’t feel amazing, there were a few places to improve. The second lap was good and the tyres hung on, very happy. Happy to be starting P1.
“[Will] try and win, we’ll see what the temperature does and the weather does. Starting in the best seat in the house!”
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