Norris on pole, Verstappen sixth in Brazil sprint qualifying

Norris on Pole, Verstappen Sixth in Brazil Sprint Qualifying

Formula 1 championship leader Lando Norris delivered two strong laps to secure pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix sprint race. Max Verstappen, struggling with car balance, finished in sixth place.

Norris claimed his first sprint pole of 2025, maintaining the momentum that recently saw him move back ahead of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in the standings. Piastri finished third, two tenths behind Norris.

Kimi Antonelli impressed by splitting the McLarens, putting his Mercedes alongside Norris on the front row despite an earlier scare in SQ1, where he narrowly avoided elimination in 15th place.

George Russell secured fourth position, edging Fernando Alonso by just 0.001 seconds. Alonso had earlier topped the SQ2 session for Aston Martin.

Verstappen’s sixth place came after repeated complaints about poor balance in his RB21. Lance Stroll added to Aston Martin’s success with seventh place — his best qualifying result in the second half of the season.

Charles Leclerc finished eighth after a challenging day for Ferrari. His late spin in SQ2 at the Bico de Pato corner prevented several drivers, including his teammate Lewis Hamilton, from advancing further. Isack Hadjar placed ninth for Racing Bulls, with Nico Hulkenberg completing the top ten for Sauber.

“Norris delivered consistency and confidence to take control in Brazil, while Verstappen’s struggles highlight ongoing setup challenges for Red Bull.”
Author’s Summary

Lando Norris secured Brazil sprint pole with dominant form, as Verstappen’s car issues kept him down in sixth, capping a day of mixed fortunes for top teams.

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The Race The Race — 2025-11-07

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