F1 Brazilian Grand Prix Qualifying: Lando Norris Clinches Pole as Max Verstappen Suffers Stunning Q1 Exit
The São Paulo Grand Prix qualifying session at Interlagos delivered one of the most unpredictable outcomes of the 2025 Formula 1 season. While McLaren’s Lando Norris claimed a magnificent pole position, reigning world champion Max Verstappen suffered a disastrous early elimination, exiting in Q1 for the first time in years.
Norris produced an exceptional lap of 1:09.511s, edging out Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli by just 0.174 seconds to secure the top spot on the grid. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc rounded out the top three, giving the Scuderia a much-needed boost as they continue to battle Mercedes for second place in the Constructors’ Championship. But while the front of the grid was defined by brilliance and precision, the back end told a story of shock, frustration, and missed opportunity—none more so than Verstappen’s.
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Q3: Norris Delivers When It Matters
The final qualifying session (Q3) began with chaos and shifting fortunes. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri initially set the fastest lap, with Leclerc and young Haas driver Oliver Bearman both within a tenth of his time. At that point, Norris was languishing in 10th place after locking up into Turn 1—a mistake that threatened to derail his qualifying completely.
However, when it mattered most, the British driver found his rhythm. On his final flying lap, Norris pieced together a near-perfect run through Interlagos’s fast and flowing corners, snatching pole position from Antonelli in the dying moments. His performance mirrored his dominance in the earlier Sprint session, reaffirming his control over the weekend so far.
Ferrari’s Leclerc, meanwhile, fought through the team’s handling issues to secure third place, keeping himself within striking distance of the front row. Piastri ended up fourth, still recovering from a Sprint crash earlier in the day that had briefly threatened his participation in qualifying.
Racing Bulls continued their impressive form as rookie Isack Hadjar put in another standout drive to finish fifth, while teammate Liam Lawson claimed seventh. Their combined efforts once again overshadowed the senior Red Bull team, who endured one of their worst qualifying days in recent history.
Mercedes’ George Russell could only manage sixth after abandoning soft tyres in favour of mediums—a gamble that didn’t pay off. Haas’s Bearman placed eighth, Pierre Gasly delivered an outstanding ninth for Alpine, and Nico Hulkenberg completed the top ten in his first Q3 appearance of the season for Sauber.
Q3 Top 10 Results:
1. Lando Norris (McLaren) – 1:09.511
2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) – +0.174
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – +0.294
4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) – +0.375
5. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) – +0.420
6. George Russell (Mercedes) – +0.431
7. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) – +0.451
8. Oliver Bearman (Haas) – +0.486
9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) – +0.491
10. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) – +0.528
Q2: Hamilton’s Frustrations Continue
For Lewis Hamilton, it was another difficult day. The seven-time world champion failed to advance to Q3 for the second consecutive session, struggling with a lack of rear grip in his Ferrari. Despite pushing hard, Hamilton could manage only 13th fastest, shaking his head in frustration as he returned to the pits.
Fernando Alonso narrowly missed out on Q3 by just 0.016 seconds, placing 11th, while Alex Albon followed closely behind in 12th for Williams. Lance Stroll ended up 14th, continuing Aston Martin’s mixed form, and Carlos Sainz could do no better than 15th in the second Williams, capping off a disappointing day for the Spaniard.
Q2 Eliminations:
11. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) – +0.016
12. Alex Albon (Williams) – +0.068
13. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – +0.115
14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) – +0.276
15. Carlos Sainz (Williams) – +0.587
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Q1: Verstappen’s Nightmare at Interlagos
The biggest shock of the session—and arguably the season—came in Q1. The opening phase of qualifying was chaotic, with the track surface changing rapidly and grip levels fluctuating from corner to corner. Amid the confusion, Max Verstappen’s Red Bull simply couldn’t find the pace.
The Dutchman complained over team radio that he had “zero grip,” and despite several attempts, he could do no better than 16th. The elimination marked the first time Verstappen has failed to progress beyond Q1 on pure pace since the 2021 Russian Grand Prix in Sochi. It was also the first time in four years that a Red Bull car failed to make Q2, underlining the team’s growing struggles late in the season.
His early exit is a crushing blow to his already slim championship hopes, leaving him with a massive recovery task in Sunday’s race. Red Bull engineers will now face an intense debrief as they scramble to understand what went wrong with the RB21’s setup and tyre performance.
Behind Verstappen, Esteban Ocon placed 17th for Haas, with Franco Colapinto 18th after a strong effort from Alpine mechanics to rebuild his car following a Sprint crash earlier in the day. Yuki Tsunoda endured another frustrating session in 19th, compounding Red Bull’s misery, while local favourite Gabriel Bortoleto was unable to take part in qualifying due to extensive damage from his earlier crash. Despite being medically cleared to drive, his Sauber crew couldn’t repair the car in time.
A Sauber spokesperson praised the team’s effort, saying, “The crew did a formidable job trying to get Gabriel’s car ready for qualifying. Unfortunately, it was not possible to get him out in time for a lap, but this should not detract from the effort every single member of the garage put in. We now shift our focus to the race.”
Q1 Eliminations:
16. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) – +0.066
17. Esteban Ocon (Haas) – +0.101
18. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) – +0.295
19. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) – +0.374
20. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – No Time
A Battle Lines Drawn for Sunday
With Norris on pole and Verstappen starting deep in the field, the stage is set for a fascinating São Paulo Grand Prix. The McLaren driver will aim to convert his pole into a victory that could extend his championship lead, while Verstappen faces the uphill challenge of fighting through the pack from 16th.
Ferrari, Mercedes, and Racing Bulls are all well-positioned to capitalise, setting up what promises to be one of the most unpredictable and thrilling races of the 2025 season at Interlagos.
