Sprint Qualifying Brazil 2025: Norris Beats Antonelli to Pole, Verstappen Sixth
1. Session Format & Conditions
Run under Friday-evening floodlights, the 36-minute knockout followed the usual SQ1-SQ2-SQ3 format. Ambient temperature hovered at 19 °C, track 27 °C, with a gusting tail-wind down the Reta Oposta complicating braking into Turn 4.
2. SQ1 – Early Exits
Both RBs dropped out: Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar missed the cut by less than a tenth, joined by the two Kick Saubers and a hard-tyre-shod Sergio Pérez who never found rhythm on the dusty asphalt.
3. SQ2 – Leclerc Spins, Alonso Flies
Charles Leclerc’s 360° loop at Pinheirinho triggered a yellow that ruined several laps; the Monegasque still progressed in tenth. Fernando Alonso hustled the Aston Martin to fourth, while local rookie Gabriel Bortoleto squeezed through in fifth to the delight of the grandstands.
4. SQ3 – Shootout Showdown
- Lando Norris banked a 1:09.243 on his first run and refused a second, watching rivals fail to topple him.
- Kimi Antonelli, 18, produced a flawless 1:09.340 to secure front-row glory in only his fifth F1 weekend.
- Oscar Piastri aborted his final lap after a wide moment, settling for third ahead of George Russell and Alonso .
5. Top 10 Sprint Grid
Table
| Pos | Driver | Team | SQ3 Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:09.243 | — |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:09.340 | +0.097 |
| 3 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:09.428 | +0.185 |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:09.495 | +0.252 |
| 5 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:09.571 | +0.328 |
| 6 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 1:09.612 | +0.369 |
| 7 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:09.701 | +0.458 |
| 8 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:09.788 | +0.545 |
| 9 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber | 1:09.856 | +0.613 |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:09.903 | +0.660 |
Full classification at https://www.motorsportweek.com/2025/11/07/f1-2025-brazil-grand-prix-sprint-qualifying-results/.
6. Key Talking Points
- McLaren one-lap dominance: both drivers comfortable on the soft C5, suggesting strong sprint-race tyre life.
- Mercedes revival: Antonelli’s pace boosts team morale after a subdued FP1.
- Verstappen’s worries: balance issues resurfaced; Red Bull parc-ferry tweaks limited under sprint regulations .
7. What Happens Next?
The 24-lap sprint starts Saturday at 14:00 local (17:00 UTC). Forecasts predict a 40 % chance of showers—potentially jumbling the order and offering Norris a chance to extend his slender championship lead over Piastri and Verstappen.
Conclusion
Sprint Qualifying in São Paulo delivered fresh faces at the sharp end: a rookie on the front row, a veteran in the top five, and the title protagonists scattered from first to sixth. With slippery conditions possible, tomorrow’s dash could be a classic Interlagos thriller.