Weather chaos in Sao Paulo: Verstappen ahead in qualifying

The Red Bull star held his nerve on Friday in Interlagos in a qualifying session that was canceled shortly before the end due to a severe storm. Next to the world champion, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc starts from the front row. Behind them are the two Aston Martins of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso.

Starting place penalty for Russell

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton was fifth, a tenth of a second faster than his Mercedes teammate George Russell, who was initially sixth. Last year’s winner was penalized by two starting positions after qualifying after he hindered Alpine driver Pierre Gasly in the pit lane. Sergio Perez didn’t get past ninth on the grid in the second Red Bull. However, the Mexican was unlucky at the finish because his only fast lap was canceled out by Oscar Piastri in the McLaren. 4:19 minutes before the end of the session, the race management felt that the danger from squalls and a black wall of rain for the drivers and audience was too great. There was the red flag.

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However, a penalty of two places down was also imposed on Gasly and his compatriot and teammate Esteban Ocon for the same offense. Gasly moves from starting position 13 to 15, Ocon from 12 to 14.

Storm warnings turned qualifying into a poker game

The heavens only finally opened when qualifying was stopped. “It was very hectic on the last lap,” admitted Verstappen. The severe weather warning for the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace had turned the entire qualifying into a poker game. At the finish, Verstappen set the first mark – and benefited from the fact that the rain actually started afterwards. The 26-year-old Dutchman claimed the 31st pole position of his career, the eleventh of the season and his second in Sao Paulo.

“It’s crazy what’s happening”

“We didn’t know when it would come. But it’s crazy what’s happening now,” said Verstappen in the garage where the drivers hid from the downpour at the end of the session. The 16-time season winner reported strong winds that caused problems for the pilots in the final phase. “It was strange. I’ve never experienced anything like that before,” said Leclerc. “There was no rain, but the car was extremely difficult to drive.” The Monegasque, who recently took pole position in Austin and Mexico City, ended up 0.294 seconds short of Verstappen’s best time.

In the first qualifying section in dry conditions, last year’s winner Russell was a little faster than the eventual top duo. “My car jumps around like a kangaroo,” Verstappen complained on the radio at this point. In the second section, Lando Norris in the McLaren set the fastest time of the entire qualifying. In the end, the Brit had to settle for seventh place on the grid ahead of Carlos Sainz in the second Ferrari.

In the only free practice session, Ferrari set the pace

Ferrari set the pace in the only free practice session. Sainz was the fastest ahead of Leclerc and Russell. Red Bull ran a completely different program, concentrating on the long runs. Verstappen and Perez were content with places 16 and 18. On Saturday (7:30 p.m. CET) there will be a sprint race for the last time this season, for which the starting lineup will be determined in a shootout (3:00 p.m. CET/live on ServusTV and Sky). .