F1 JUST NOW: Lando Norris Takes Pole as Max Verstappen Suffers

Lando Norris Takes Pole as Max Verstappen Suffers Early Exit in Chaotic Sao Paulo GP Qualifying

Lando Norris secured a crucial pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after a dramatic, rain-soaked qualifying session on Sunday morning at Interlagos, which saw five crashes and the shock elimination of championship leader Max Verstappen. The McLaren driver produced a stunning final lap in Q3 to claim his seventh pole of the season, beating Mercedes’ George Russell in the challenging conditions.

The session, delayed due to heavy rain on Saturday, was held on race day morning for only the sixth time in Formula 1 history. Norris, who trails Verstappen by 44 points in the Drivers’ Championship, now has a golden opportunity to close the gap, as Verstappen will start from a lowly 17th position following his elimination in Q2 and a five-place grid penalty for taking a new engine.

Verstappen’s Qualifying Struggles

Max Verstappen, who has dominated much of the 2024 season, faced an unusually difficult qualifying session. The Red Bull driver, alongside teammate Sergio Perez, was eliminated in Q2 after a controversial delay in red-flagging the session following Lance Stroll’s heavy crash. The incident left Verstappen stuck in the bottom five, unable to set another fast lap before the session was halted. Both Verstappen and Perez were left frustrated, with Verstappen questioning why it took so long for race control to stop the session after Stroll’s accident.

With Verstappen’s Q2 elimination compounded by his grid penalty for a new engine, the championship leader is set to start 17th in the race. However, if further grid penalties or retirements occur—such as the possibility of Alex Albon’s Williams not starting the race due to damage—Verstappen could move up to 16th before the race begins.

Rain Chaos and Crashes in Qualifying

The wet conditions at Interlagos played a huge role in the chaotic qualifying session. A total of five crashes occurred during the session, with some big names falling victim to the slippery track. Williams’ Franco Colapinto, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso all crashed during the qualifying segments, bringing out multiple red flags and further delaying the session.

Albon also suffered a major crash that ruled him out of the race, as confirmed by the Williams team after qualifying. His absence could allow Verstappen to gain one position on the starting grid, should there be no other penalties.

Lewis Hamilton was another shock casualty in the difficult conditions, as the Mercedes driver was eliminated in Q1, missing out on advancing to the later stages of qualifying. Hamilton’s early exit was one of the surprises of the session, given his usual prowess in mixed conditions.

Shock Performances from Tsunoda and Lawson

While Verstappen’s struggles were the main talking point, there were standout performances from other drivers in the rain-hit session. Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda delivered a career-best qualifying result, securing third place on the grid, while Alpine’s Esteban Ocon claimed a strong fourth position.

Liam Lawson, filling in at AlphaTauri, also impressed with a fifth-place finish, capitalizing on the challenging conditions to qualify ahead of several more experienced drivers. His performance added to the unpredictability of the session, further shaking up the grid for Sunday’s race.

Norris’s Chance to Cut Verstappen’s Lead

Lando Norris’s pole position is a significant boost to his title challenge, as he now has the chance to reduce Verstappen’s 44-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship. Norris has been one of the standout performers of the season, and his seventh pole of the year underlines McLaren’s growing competitiveness in 2024.

Speaking after the session, Norris expressed his delight with the result: “It was a really tough qualifying, but the team did an amazing job, and I’m really happy to get pole. The conditions were tricky, but we managed it well, and now we’ve got a great opportunity in the race.”

With the grid shaken up by penalties and crashes, Norris has a prime opportunity to take maximum points from the race, but he will need to stay focused and avoid the unpredictability that the Interlagos circuit often brings.

The Sao Paulo Grand Prix promises to be a thrilling and unpredictable affair, with Norris aiming to capitalize on his pole position and Verstappen looking to fight back from 17th on the grid in what could be a pivotal race in the 2024 championship battle.