Key events
That’s all from me. Tomorrow afternoon, Daniel Harris will be with you for the race proper, however long it lasts, with the lights due to go out at 5pm GMT. Giles Richards has filed his report:
Lando Norris took pole position for McLaren at the São Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos, with George Russell setting the second fastest time. Norris put in a strong lap in very tricky wet conditions during a qualifying session that took two and a half hours to complete because of heavy rain. Russell, though, has a grid penalty, promoting the new world champion, Kimi Antonelli, to second and the Racing Bulls’ driver Liam Lawson to third and Audi’s Nico Hülkenberg to fourth.
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were also amongst a raft of drivers taking a grid penalty for taking a new engine and the Dutchman opted to not set a time after Q1, to save his tyres for the race and will start from 21st.
Hamilton also had to take a full range of engine components, having had a new internal combustion engine for final practice which then suffered a problem and he will start from 20th place. His Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc finished in fourth but has a ten-place penalty for taking a new ICE and will start from 13th.
Well, that was fun. At times it did not look as if we would get Q1 done, never mind Q3.
The weather is on his mind. “We’ll try to be ready for anything … And thank you for all the fans for staying out with us.”
“I struggled a little bit in the inters, I made a big mistake and almost went off at turn five. Still was enough for P3.”
Now Antonelli, greeted as the new world champion. Did it feel any different? “It was very tricky … I didn’t know what to expect, I have never driven here in the wet.”
His hopes, given the penalty, depend on the weather. “I feel more confident in the wet than the dry.”
Now Russell, asked about his frustration: “Obviously congrats to Lando, but that was definitely the pole lap. A misjudgment on our side, we need to understand what happened … The rain was coming, we should have just finished the lap.”
He continues: “I’m very happy … It was about getting two laps in and not making any mistakes, and that’s what we did.”
Norris speaks to Naomi Schiff: “It’s been a long day … It’s been a great qualifying, to be on pole again here, two years in a row.”
Norris takes pole
This will be it. Norris’s 1:27.470 will take pole and Antonelli will be alongside him, as Russell drops to seventh. Leclerc has a 10-place penalty, so Lawson will be third, with Hulkenberg alongside him.
Everyone back in the pits. The clock ticking, barely four minutes left.
Russell furious at being told to back off, because Albon was in the way, but then the rain came. Toto Wolff trying to console him.
Norris, Russell, Antonelli, Leclerc, Lawson, Hulkenberg, Hadjar, Bearman, Alonso, Albon.
Ted Kravitz says the heavy rain is here. That could be that.
Norris takes it as of right in 1:27.470.
Russell has that penalty … so Norris could inherit pole.
It all depends on the rain. Russell quickest in 1:27.674, from Norris, Lawson, Antonelli.
Nope. Liam Lawson goes much faster and so does Lando Norris.
Fernando Alonso out in front. He must have a shot at pole.
“When it hits, it will be very intense,” Antonelli is told.
Q3 is go. But for how long?
Antonelli told we might get only one lap before the heavy rain returns. Is everyone in the queue on the wrong tyres?
Karun Chandhok says Piastri stayed out maybe two laps too long.
A pit lane queue is forming. We might – might – get away with it.
Bernie Collins says the rain looks to be five minutes away. Camara damaged a barrier, it will take time to repair, and Q3 could be in doubt.
“Weather update: very dark now,” says George Russell.
Q3 will be delayed. Q2 will not restart. Albon and Alonso among those through, the latter Aston Martin’s first of the season.
Q2 eliminations – including Oscar Piastri
Camara’s crash sends out Hamilton, Piastri, Camara, Lindblad, Sainz and non-runner Verstappen.
Red flag. Camara in the wall.
Like Q1, it’s a tale of endless improvement.
Bearman goes fastest, then Lawson in 1:27.478.
Now everyone. Drop zone is Camara, Lindblad, Sainz, Bearman, Albon and non-runner Verstappen.
Intermediates. Alonso, Lawson and others.
No, he was able to stop behind the barriers.
Red flag coming? Lindblad told to “stop the car in a safe place”.
Antonelli at +0.359.
Hamilton second fastest for a moment, but Russell lands a 1:29.285.
