F1 | Sprint Qualifying | São Paulo GP | Norris takes pole after dominant SQ3 laps around Interlagos - Motorsport

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Bringing another Sprint Race weekend to the calendar, the F1 São Paulo GP welcomed the fifth Sprint Qualifying session of the 2025 season. Lando Norris took home another pole in qualifying, holding off Oscar Piastri, his title rival. After a sole FP1, which saw the Brit narrowly ahead of the Aussie, teams will have to go into the SQ with minimal track time around Interlagos.

The Free Practice session had Norris and Oscar Piastri exchange the lead. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen faced issues that almost sent him spinning, had it not been for a lucky save. Nico Hülkenberg was an unexpected addition to the top 3, with teammate Gabriel Bortoleto running in fifth. Attending his first home race, the Brazilian showed great potential for the rest of the race weekend.

Lights out for SQ1

With a temperature of 19 degrees Celsius, the F1 São Paulo GP Sprint Qualifying session received the green lights. As the rest of the weekend looks to be under an orange alert for storms, the drivers made quick work getting out on the dry track.

As the threat of traffic around the circuit loomed over the teams, Yuki Tsunoda was first out of the pits. Both McLarens followed suit, alongside Aston Martin and Racing Bulls. After a quick out-lap, Lando Norris set off for his first flying lap.

Oscar Piastri kept close to his teammate, snatching the purple from sector 2 as he completed the early benchmark: 1:10.286. Furthermore, as the time dropped under 8 minutes, the Ferrari drivers pushed hard to deliver their first lap times.

Picking up some slipstream into his first sector, Max Verstappen went on to claim a confident time. Going a tenth quicker than Piastri, the Dutchman slotted nicely into pole.

As Russell set an impressive flying lap, his time at the top of the timesheets was cut short by Norris. The McLaren driver dropped the lap into the 1:09s. Pierre Gasly flew through Interlagos as he managed to climb up to P5, ahead of Antonelli and Leclerc.

Eliminated in SQ1

With only 2 minutes left in the SQ1, the bottom five drivers tried to avoid exiting this early. Claiming some crucial slipstream, Alex Albon rose to the top 10. As the drivers made their final flying lap attempts, the F1 São Paulo GP Sprint Qualifying, Kimi Antonelli almost went under the line.

The drivers out in SQ1 were: Franco Colapinto, Liam Lawson, Yuki Tsunoda, Esteban Ocon, and Carlos Sainz.

SQ2

With the 15 remaining drivers back in the garages, Carlos Sainz was heard on the radio complaining after getting kicked out of SQ1 due to heavy traffic. Nevertheless, the F1 São Paulo GP Sprint Qualifying went on.

The SQ2 began shortly, with the likes of Antonelli stressing after a close call, almost getting dropped in the bottom 5. Bortoleto was out first, hoping to take advantage of the confidence boost from his home crowd.

As the Brazilian finished his out lap, he went on to set a 1:09.963 time. His pace was incredible, so early into the session as well. Both Ferraris looked to be struggling. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton could not make up enough time for pole, suffering from lock-ups.

Max Verstappen joined their issues as a possible mistake in the middle sector put him into P4. While Norris showed a great improvement, both he and Piastri slotted behind Fernando Alonso’s remarkable time.

With three minutes to go, Lando Norris went on to double his rest lap, similarly to Piastri. Isack Hadjar tried his hand at improving his times, yet he was another victim of Turn 10’s lock-ups.

Eliminated in SQ2

As Verstappen seemed to lack the pace for the pole, Charles Leclerc spun out after missing the apex. This triggered a short yellow flag, which unfortunately ruined Hamilton’s last hope at making it out of SQ2.

The bottom five drivers of the F1 São Paulo GP Sprint Qualifying in the second stint were: Lewis Hamilton, Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Oliver Bearman.

SQ3

With only 8 minutes on the clock, the top 10 shootout to decide who will start from pole in the Sprint Race began shortly. Nico Hülkenberg and Isack Hadjar were the two wild cards this session, after Hamilton dropped out early.

The F1 São Paulo GP Sprint Qualifying had the drivers out on mandatory soft tyres. In a split SQ3, Russell, Norris, Piastri, Antonelli, and Leclerc were the first five to set lap markers.

George Russell managed to add up the sectors well; however, his rookie teammate, Kimi Antonelli, made up for Russell’s mistakes in the middle section. Nonetheless, the McLaren of Lando Norris returned to P1 as his teammate lost out due to understeer.

Both Papaya drivers remained on track as the second group of cars rejoined the session for final lap times. With pressure from Alonso, McLaren looked to have opted for a more cautious approach to SQ3.

Final improvements in SQ3

Setting off on their last crucial laps, Max Verstappen set off aggressively with the best first sector of the session. As Fernando Alonso failed to steal that pole again, the Red Bull driver dropped down into P6.

Lando Norris earned his first P1 result in any Sprint Qualifying this season at the F1 São Paulo GP with a 1:09.243. In a spectacular turn of events, Kimi Antonelli secured a front-row start, ahead of both Oscar Piastri and Russell.