Lando Norris has a golden opportunity to take a big bite out of rival Max Verstappen’s championship lead after securing pole for the Brazilian Grand Prix.
As it stands after qualifying, Max Verstappen will likely start from 17th on the grid. He was knocked out of Q2 in 12th place and has a five-place grid penalty.
George Russell will start on the front row, while Yuki Tsunoda qualified third. Several cars are at risk of not being able to make the start after crashing out in the session.
Q1
After being postponed due to persistent heavy rain on Saturday afternoon, Q1 finally got underway at its rescheduled time of 7:30am.Drivers headed out on the very wet track on full wet weather tyres, struggling to find grip around the circuit. Lando Norris set the initial benchmark with a 1’31.608, but that was beaten by Esteban Ocon in the Alpine.
Several drivers ran off track at Juncao, including Liam Lawson and Zhou Guanyu. Lewis Hamilton had his first time deleted for passing through a double yellow flag zone, then lost another lap by sliding off at the first corner.
The biggest mistake however came from Franco Colapinto, who lost control heading through Curva do Sol and spun into the barriers, bringing out the red flags. Colapinto was unhurt and climbed out of the car, before the session resumed with just under nine minutes remaining.
Conditions had hardly changed as the drivers returned to the track, but several drivers had taken fresh wet weather tyres, including Norris but not Verstappen. A handful of drivers improved, but both Verstappen and Norris were struggling to find any more time in the conditions.
Norris fell into the drop zone and needed to find time to ensure he would not be eliminated at the first hurdle. He managed to post his best time with his final lap, but it was only good enough for him to sneak through in 15th.
Hamilton struggled all session and he could not find the time he needed to go safe, knocked out in 16th. Oliver Bearman was also eliminated in 17th, but ahead of Haas team mate Nico Hulkenberg. Zhou Guanyu also failed to follow team mate Valtteri Bottas through into Q2 as he was knocked out slowest.
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Q1 result
| P. | # | Driver | Team | Model | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | RB20 | 1’28.500 | |
| 2 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | FW46 | 1’29.050 | 0.550 |
| 3 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | W15 | 1’29.099 | 0.599 |
| 4 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | A524 | 1’29.149 | 0.649 |
| 5 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB-Honda RBPT | 01 | 1’29.150 | 0.650 |
| 6 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Renault | A524 | 1’29.398 | 0.898 |
| 7 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | SF-24 | 1’29.817 | 1.317 |
| 8 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | RB20 | 1’30.013 | 1.513 |
| 9 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL38 | 1’30.092 | 1.592 |
| 10 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR24 | 1’30.185 | 1.685 |
| 11 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | SF-24 | 1’30.281 | 1.781 |
| 12 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR24 | 1’30.558 | 2.058 |
| 13 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Sauber-Ferrari | C44 | 1’30.611 | 2.111 |
| 14 | 30 | Liam Lawson | RB-Honda RBPT | 01 | 1’30.736 | 2.236 |
| 15 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL38 | 1’30.922 | 2.422 |
| 16 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Mercedes | W15 | 1’31.128 | 2.628 |
| 17 | 50 | Oliver Bearman | Haas-Ferrari | VF-24 | 1’31.207 | 2.707 |
| 18 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Williams-Mercedes | FW46 | 1’31.248 | 2.748 |
| 19 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Haas-Ferrari | VF-24 | 1’31.601 | 3.101 |
| 20 | 24 | Zhou Guanyu | Sauber-Ferrari | C44 | 1’32.241 | 3.741 |
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Q2
As drivers queued up at the pit lane exit for the start of Q2, Charles Leclerc was informed that Ferrari expected no further rain for the 15 minute session.
Of the 15 cars that headed out on the track, only Oscar Piastri dared to do so on intermediate tyres. His first effort on the intermediates was just a second slower than Verstappen on new wet tyres, which indicated that the circuit was improving.
As Piastri continued to improved, the entire field rushed into the pit lane to switch onto the intermediates. Russell had a spin exiting turn ten as he tried to feel out the grip levels, but Carlos Sainz Jnr had more difficulties as he started his first push lap, sliding off the track at the Senna Esses and into the tyre barrier.
The red flag came out for a second time with the Ferrari sitting crashed in the barriers. But with Norris sitting in 11th place, it was a nervous wait for McLaren who needed the track to be cleared as quickly as possible so he could return to the circuit and try and improve before any further race arrived.
The session resumed after a delay of only eight minutes and no further rain. Norris led the field out of the pit lane, leaving him a clean track in front of him for his first flying lap. He immediately improved to go third, but was still over a second slower than his team mate.
Verstappen attempted to start his first push lap but was overtaken by Esteban Ocon, who he had passed moments earlier, as he approached the line. Verstappen was advised to back off to prepare for his next lap, but as he did, Lance Stroll spun into the barriers at Curva do Sol, bringing out the yellow flags.
After almost a minute, the yellow flag was upgraded to a red flag. But with only 40 seconds remaining, it was announced the session would not be resumed. That spelled disaster for Red Bull, with both their drivers were knocked out, Verstappen in 12th and Perez 13th. Verstappen’s penalty means he will start 17th on the grid for the afternoon’s grand prix.
Valtteri Bottas only just missed out on a shock Q3 appearance in 11th, ahead of the two Red Bulls. Sainz was also out with his accident, with Pierre Gasly knocked out slowest in 15th.
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Q2 result
| P. | # | Driver | Team | Model | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL38 | 1’24.844 | |
| 2 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR24 | 1’25.035 | 0.191 |
| 3 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL38 | 1’25.179 | 0.335 |
| 4 | 30 | Liam Lawson | RB-Honda RBPT | 01 | 1’25.654 | 0.810 |
| 5 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | FW46 | 1’25.889 | 1.045 |
| 6 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | SF-24 | 1’26.097 | 1.253 |
| 7 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | A524 | 1’26.206 | 1.362 |
| 8 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | W15 | 1’26.307 | 1.463 |
| 9 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR24 | No time | |
| 10 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB-Honda RBPT | 01 | 1’26.464 | 1.620 |
| 11 | 77 | Valtteri Bottas | Sauber-Ferrari | C44 | 1’26.472 | 1.628 |
| 12 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | RB20 | 1’27.771 | 2.927 |
| 13 | 11 | Sergio Perez | Red Bull-Honda RBPT | RB20 | 1’28.158 | 3.314 |
| 14 | 55 | Carlos Sainz Jnr | Ferrari | SF-24 | 1’29.406 | 4.562 |
| 15 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine-Renault | A524 | 1’29.614 | 4.770 |
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Q3
With his championship rival doomed to start well down the order, Norris was presented with a critical opportunity to pile the pressure on Verstappen and secure a strong grid position in his effort to maximise the points he could take out of the Red Bull in the upcoming grand prix.Once again, the conditions were appropriate for intermediates as Q3 began, with Norris immediately jumping to the top of the times with his first lap. That was beaten by Ocon, before Piastri and Alexander Albon went quicker to go to the top of the times.
Norris’s second lap was a significant improvement as he returned to the top of the order with a 1’24.158. But seconds later, the red flag flew for the fourth time in the session as Fernando Alonso spun into the barriers at Mergulho.
The session resumed with seven minutes still to run, with Albon reporting that the track seemed to be slightly drier than before. However, as he began his push lap, Albon slid off under braking for the Senna S, becoming the latest driver to meet with the barrier and bringing out the fifth red flag stoppage of the session.
There was still more than three minutes remaining, however, which meant that qualifying was still not finished. The seven drivers still able to take to the track did so in a last gasp effort to improve their grid position. Norris improved on his first effort, then did so again with his second. His 1’23.405 proved enough to secure him pole position, as none of his rivals could match it.
Russell got closest to the McLaren to secure second on the grid, with Yuki Tsunoda taking his best grid position of his career in third. Ocon took fourth on the grid ahead of Lawson, with Leclerc disappointed in sixth.
Piastri could not find time in the final part of the session and was eighth, behind Albon. However, Albon’s car will require significant repairs, as will the two Aston Martins of Alonso and Stroll in ninth and tenth.
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Q3 result
| P. | # | Driver | Team | Model | Time | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL38 | 1’23.405 | |
| 2 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | W15 | 1’23.578 | 0.173 |
| 3 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | RB-Honda RBPT | 01 | 1’24.111 | 0.706 |
| 4 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Alpine-Renault | A524 | 1’24.475 | 1.070 |
| 5 | 30 | Liam Lawson | RB-Honda RBPT | 01 | 1’24.484 | 1.079 |
| 6 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | SF-24 | 1’24.525 | 1.120 |
| 7 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams-Mercedes | FW46 | 1’24.657 | 1.252 |
| 8 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren-Mercedes | MCL38 | 1’24.686 | 1.281 |
| 9 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR24 | 1’28.998 | 5.593 |
| 10 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin-Mercedes | AMR24 | No time |
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2024 Brazilian Grand Prix
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- “That’s how we silence them”: Verstappen’s stunning Brazil win from start to finish
- Verstappen now has as many wins as F1’s first six world champions combined
roadrunner (@roadrunner)
3rd November 2024, 12:44
Big switch in fortune for Norris. They could have caught out yesterday by the VSC, he could have been out in q1 and then sticks it on pole while his championship rival couldn’t get a lap in in Q2.
That’s the luck Schumacher, Vettel, Verstappen and Hamilton had in their prime. Understandable that Verstappen is frustrated, but he’s been lucky before. Now, at least for a this weekend so far, what can go wrong does go wrong for him.
Scalextric (@scalextric)
3rd November 2024, 12:47
Expecting some pit lane starts or even non-starts so HAM and VER will probably be a little nearer the points at the start. But both together on the grid. Hope they get through turn 1 unscathed.
Patrick (@paeschli)
3rd November 2024, 13:05
Or they could swap out more engine components on Max and Lewis cars and get them to start from the pit lane to avoid first lap drama.
Mayrton
3rd November 2024, 13:06
Wouldn’t it be good for RedBull to completely change Max car including yet another power unit and start from the pit lane?
Riccard
3rd November 2024, 13:17
They mentioned a weekend or two back that there are financial penalties for changing your power unit when you don’t need to. They may not have the space in their cost cap.
SteveP
3rd November 2024, 13:34
Catering budget mate, catering budget.
Ludewig
3rd November 2024, 15:45
Haven’t you run out of the fool budget by now?
SteveP
3rd November 2024, 13:37
That would provide no real advantage, it’s not like they could take the new PU and use it alongside the partially new (new ICE in for the start of this weekend) as the regulations say you only use the newest of the ones that over-allocation.
Ben
3rd November 2024, 12:49
Tsunoda currently in contract negotiations with RedBull for next year if he agrees to slam into the back of Norris at turn 1.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
3rd November 2024, 15:20
They could organize a toro rosso shootout: who crashes norris out gets red bull seat! Both had a good quali.
Paul (@frankjaeger)
3rd November 2024, 13:06
That was the most insane quali I’ve ever watched! As good as some races
Paul (@frankjaeger)
3rd November 2024, 13:07
Plus big props to Lando… Keeping it on track and had great pace on a changing circuit. One of the best qualifiers out there
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
3rd November 2024, 15:22
Yes, very very interesting quali, everything happened, and very few cars left running in the end!
Unfortunately, conditions just kept “improving”, just like canada 2022, would be nice with some actual rain coming (they were predicting more rain in q3 but lap times kept improving).
For example if you have q1 on full wet conditions, q2 on intermediates and then you get a lot of rain during the break before q3 and intermediates are not suitable and they need to use full wets again can be more interesting.
Broderick Harper (@banbrorace)
3rd November 2024, 13:06
It’s deliciously ironic that Horner is moaning about safety – i.e. the red flag should have been earlier, but doesn’t seem to think it should apply to his No.1’s driving style.
Paul (@frankjaeger)
3rd November 2024, 13:09
My thoughts exactly. If he’s comfortable with Abu Dhabi 2021, he doesn’t have a leg to stand on here, put plainly
Mayrton
3rd November 2024, 13:08
Dream scenario for FIA/Liberty. I congratulate them.
Postreader
3rd November 2024, 13:15
Verstappen shouldn’t be this salty. He was already given a championship in 2021, after all.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
3rd November 2024, 15:24
He was the most deserving driver that season, and it’s not just me saying that, he was voted best driver on this site too, which has a lot of hamilton fans (more so at the time).
Ray West (@raynaud2211)
3rd November 2024, 13:25
It will be a lot of fun to see Max catching the top, if you support him or not. Also expecting a lot from Ferrari. Car is fast and should be higher on starting grid. A race to look forward to. And hopefully not to many nasty crashes, but the obvious names will have a hard time not clip the wall.
Davethechicken
3rd November 2024, 13:27
+1 Ray. Just hope the weather holds to get a race.
Bullfrog (@bullfrog)
3rd November 2024, 13:34
Yes, hope they all stay out of the walls so we don’t have to keep stopping to have them rebuilt.
Is the Ferrari a bit of a handful? Leclerc couldn’t move himself up the grid in the final minutes, and Sainz crashed his.
Andrew
3rd November 2024, 13:54
I agree, max may have a senna moment here. He’s bloody good in the wet…whatever happens it could be exciting if wet….
I just wish he would stop moaning. It’s petulant child stuff, he’s better than all that..
Ajaxn
3rd November 2024, 13:48
I can’t wait to see what Russell makes of starting in 2nd. Just so long as he doesn’t surprise us by taking out Norris.
Illusive (@illusive)
3rd November 2024, 14:16
The stars have aligned for Norris cause boy was he lucky today in Q1 and with Q2 with Max getting caught by Red flag. I’d put some blame on RedBull run plan as well as a double cool lap was always going to risky. But it is what it is now, Max needs to put in the drive of his life if there is a race.
Frank
3rd November 2024, 14:23
I have known a driver who was ruthlessly consistent, error-free, dominant vs highly rated team mates and reliably grabbing every sniff of a shadow of an opportunity.
Time is unforgiving, I guess.