Formula 1: Front row for pursuer Norris – Verstappen behind

World championship chaser Lando Norris has positioned himself for the next attack on Max Verstappen’s points lead in the Formula 1 title fight, but missed pole for the sprint in São Paulo. The 24-year-old Brit had to admit defeat to his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri in qualifying at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace. Norris couldn’t get close to his top lap on his last attempt.

Verstappen, who is 47 points ahead of Norris in the championship as the championship leader, saved fourth place in the Red Bull starting position for the sprint race over around 100 kilometers this Saturday (3 p.m./Sky). Briton Oliver Bearman, who was Nico Hülkenberg’s teammate in the Haas and replaced Kevin Magnussen, who was ill, made it into the top ten in tenth place. Bearman will also drive for the team for the rest of the weekend as, according to the racing team, Magnussen will not be fit again in time.

The drivers only had one hour to prepare for the sprint qualification. This is the format on the weekends with the additional race, where there are a maximum of eight points to be gained and which Verstappen doesn’t like. The 27-year-old Dutchman has won four out of four sprints so far this year.

It had already been indicated during training that it would be impossible for Verstappen to get pole for the fifth of a total of six sprint races in 2024. Verstappen didn’t get past 15th place, but he didn’t even try on the fastest tires.

Norris achieved the best time in free practice. He continued with this in the first period of the sprint qualification. The Briton was almost a second faster than Verstappen. The Dutchman finished sixth in the first elimination round. He came second in the middle section, back in first place: Norris.

Verstappen also received a penalty for the main race

Behind the top ten, Brazil’s honorary citizen and record world champion Lewis Hamilton came in eleventh in the Mercedes, Nico Hülkenberg in the Haas in twelfth place and also Sergio Pérez. The Mexican, already a heavy contender at Red Bull, finished 13th. The team’s tactics didn’t seem to work, he arrived on the track too late for another fast lap. The Argentinian shooting star Franco Colapinto was also hit, he came 14th in the Williams.

In the final period, it initially looked like Norris would set a best time again, before his 23-year-old teammate moved ahead of him on his second attempt. For Verstappen, whose tough driving style is currently the subject of heated discussions, the weekend in Brazil threatens to be another setback. Because of another, unauthorized new engine, he will be demoted five places on the starting grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix (6 p.m. CET/Sky).