Formula 1 qualification: next setback for angry Verstappen in the chaos of the crash

Max Verstappen angrily pounded his fists on the steering wheel of his Red Bull. The Formula 1 leader suffered another serious setback in the title fight with five red phases in the early bird chaos qualifying after five serious accidents at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Verstappen retired early in twelfth place in the renewed rain in São Paulo.

In addition, in the race today at 12.30 p.m. local time (4.30 p.m. CET/Sky) he will be moved back five more places due to an engine change. Verstappen is now in danger of losing further points in the rankings. His fourth title in a row seems to be in serious danger.

He leads the standings with 44 points ahead of Lando Norris, who won the sprint race on Saturday and secured pole position for the fourth-to-last race of the season on Sunday morning. “I’m super, super happy,” he said.

The 24-year-old Brit almost got caught in the first period of the knockout, which was delayed by 16.5 hours, but in the end he was unbeatable in the McLaren. George Russell came second in the Mercedes, and surprisingly the Japanese Yuki Tsunoda in the Racing Bull came third. The qualification had to be canceled on Saturday due to a storm and postponed to the morning of the race.

Shooting star crashes into the tire stack

The drivers, most of whom had made their way to Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos with police escorts between five and six in the morning, didn’t want to waste any time when things got going. Visibility: moderate to poor. The cars sometimes dragged an immense cloud of spray behind them. There is aquaplaning in some sections, Norris reported. There isn’t that much water on the track, said Russell and thought about the mixed variant instead of all-rain tires.

As soon as that was said, Argentine shooting star Franco Colapinto flew off the track. The 21-year-old, who has sparked a huge euphoria in his homeland, initially caught his Williams brilliantly, then he had no chance and crashed into the side of the tire wall. “I’m okay,” he radioed to the pits. The qualifying was initially interrupted and it started to rain heavily again.

Brazil honorary citizen flies out early

In 15th place, Norris narrowly escaped into the next lap, while Verstappen initially took first place. Nico Hülkenberg, who took his only pole in the rain in Brazil in 2010, was eliminated second to last, Lewis Hamilton 16th. “This damn car,” the 39-year-old Brit, an honorary citizen of Brazil for two years, radioed to the Mercedes command post .

When the second period had to be interrupted because Carlos Sainz crashed his Ferrari into the track barriers, Norris was in the knock-out zone, but then moved forward. Verstappen was stopped in his attempt by a crash by Lance Stroll and red flags. In the top ten battle, his Aston Martin teammate Fernando Alonso and Albon destroyed their cars, which now have to worry about being able to start the race at all.