Norris Storms to Pole in Brazil as Verstappen Suffers Shock Q1 Exit

A dramatic qualifying session for the São Paulo Grand Prix delivered a major shake-up in the championship fight, as McLaren’s Lando Norris secured a crucial pole position. The session was marked by a sensational upset, with Red Bull’s Max Verstappen failing to advance beyond the first segment, leaving him to start Sunday’s race from a lowly 16th on the grid (1, 2).

A Tale of Two Championship Contenders

Lando Norris continued his superb form at Interlagos, building on his Sprint race victory to claim pole position with a blistering lap of 1:09.511 (3). The McLaren driver masterfully navigated the challenging session to place his car at the front of the grid, putting himself in a perfect position to maximize his points haul and extend his championship lead.

In stark contrast, it was a disastrous qualifying for Max Verstappen. The Red Bull driver struggled for pace throughout the first qualifying segment (Q1) and was shockingly eliminated. It marks his first Q1 exit due to a lack of performance in over five years, a stunning turn of events for the reigning world champion (4). A frustrated Verstappen was left to lament his car’s performance.

« It just didn’t work, » Verstappen said after his unexpected exit. « I can’t understand how the performance was so bad. » (5)

The day went from bad to worse for Red Bull, as Verstappen’s teammate Yuki Tsunoda was also knocked out in Q1, compounding a miserable session for the team.

The Starting Grid: Antonelli Shines Again

The qualifying results have set the stage for a thrilling Grand Prix. Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli continued to impress, backing up his strong sprint performance by qualifying second, just behind Norris. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc will start from third, with Norris’s teammate Oscar Piastri securing fourth.

The top of the grid is as follows:

Position	Driver	Team
1	Lando Norris	McLaren
2	Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes
3	Charles Leclerc	Ferrari
4	Oscar Piastri	McLaren

With Verstappen starting from 16th, he faces an immense challenge to fight his way through the field. His post-qualifying comments suggested a grim outlook on his title chances.

When asked about the championship, Verstappen bluntly stated, « Forget about it. » (6)

Sunday’s race at Interlagos is now poised to be a pivotal moment in the 2025 Formula 1 season, with Norris in a prime position to capitalize on his rival’s misfortune.