Lando Norris Secures Pole as Max Verstappen Faces Uphill Battle in Brazilian Grand Prix — Full Starting Grid Revealed
Lando Norris will start from pole position for the 2025 Formula 1 Brazilian Grand Prix after a remarkable qualifying session that left the grid shaken and the title race wide open. The McLaren driver delivered a flawless lap at Interlagos, clocking in at 1:09.511 seconds to secure top spot and continue his fine run of form this season. The result marks a pivotal moment in Norris’s campaign, as he looks to extend his championship advantage over rivals who found themselves scattered further down the order.
The São Paulo Grand Prix qualifying session was filled with drama and unpredictability. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli continued to impress in his debut season, narrowly missing out on pole but claiming a superb second place. The young Italian has been turning heads all year with his calm, confident performances, and this result only reinforces his growing reputation as one of Formula 1’s brightest future stars.
In third place, Charles Leclerc ensured Ferrari remained in contention at the sharp end of the grid. The Monegasque driver extracted everything from his SF-25, recovering from a shaky start to the weekend that saw Ferrari struggling with balance issues during practice. His teammate Lewis Hamilton, however, endured a tougher session, managing only 13th after a scrappy qualifying run that left him fighting to stay within the top 15. Hamilton will need a strong start and some strategic brilliance to work his way into the points.
Oscar Piastri will line up fourth on the grid, putting both McLarens inside the top four. The Australian is hoping to bounce back after his heavy crash during the sprint race, which curtailed his momentum and forced the team into overnight repairs. With the car now fully restored, McLaren is aiming for another strong double-points finish — and possibly a repeat of their recent one-two results earlier in the season.
One of the standout stories of the weekend has been Isack Hadjar, who continues to shine for Racing Bulls. The young French-Algerian driver qualified an astonishing fifth, ahead of far more experienced names, once again proving his capability under pressure. His teammate Liam Lawson wasn’t far behind, taking seventh place, marking a sensational result for Racing Bulls, who now look like genuine contenders for a major points haul in São Paulo.
Between the two Racing Bulls sits George Russell in sixth, whose Mercedes looked competitive but inconsistent throughout the session. Russell’s pace on the long runs suggests he could be a threat in the race if strategy falls his way, especially with the unpredictable weather that often hits Interlagos.
In eighth, Oliver Bearman continues to impress for Haas, delivering yet another composed performance that has seen the young Brit steadily establish himself as one of the season’s biggest surprises. Pierre Gasly in ninth ensured Alpine had a presence in the top 10, while Nico Hülkenberg rounded out the leading group in tenth for Stake, continuing the team’s steady upward trajectory.
Fernando Alonso will start from 11th in the Aston Martin, a position that doesn’t reflect the full potential of the car, which showed strong pace during the sprint. Alex Albon follows in 12th for Williams, narrowly edging out Lewis Hamilton, who faces a long afternoon of recovery. Hamilton’s teammate Charles Leclerc, up in third, will have to carry Ferrari’s hopes of a podium finish.
Further down the grid, Lance Stroll starts 14th for Aston Martin ahead of Carlos Sainz, who finds himself a disappointing 15th in the second Williams. Behind them, a shock name appears — Max Verstappen. The reigning world champion suffered his first Q1 exit since the 2021 Russian Grand Prix, managing only 16th place after struggling for grip and pace throughout qualifying. Verstappen’s uncharacteristic elimination represents a massive blow to his title hopes, and he’ll need a miracle drive to salvage his weekend.
The final rows of the grid feature Esteban Ocon in 17th for Haas, Franco Colapinto in 18th for Alpine, and Yuki Tsunoda, who lines up 19th after another frustrating session for Red Bull. Completing the grid is Gabriel Bortoleto in 20th, the Stake driver hoping for a strong showing in front of his home crowd.
The grid may still be provisional pending FIA confirmation, but as it stands, the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable races of the season. With Norris on pole, Antonelli continuing his remarkable rookie campaign, and Verstappen facing one of the toughest challenges of his career, fans can expect fireworks when the lights go out at Interlagos.
Full Starting Grid – 2025 F1 Brazilian Grand Prix (Provisional):
1. Lando Norris (McLaren)
2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
5. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
6. George Russell (Mercedes)
7. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
8. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
10. Nico Hülkenberg (Stake)
11. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
12. Alex Albon (Williams)
13. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
15. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
16. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
17. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
18. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
19. Yuki Tsu
noda (Red Bull)
20. Gabriel Bortoleto (Stake)
