Reuters ConnectMax Verstappen in Brazil
NOS Sport•today, 4:35 PM•Changed today, 8:29 PM
Oscar Piastri has secured pole position for the sprint race of the Formula 1 Grand Prix in Sao Paulo. He shares the front row with his McLaren teammate Lando Norris.
Max Verstappen recorded the fourth fastest time and will start the sprint race on Saturday from the second row. A maximum of eight World Championship points can be earned in the sprint race, and 25 points in the main race on Sunday.
Verstappen, who will be put back five places in the starting lineup on Sunday due to a grid penalty, defends a 47-point lead over Norris in the World Cup standings. On Saturday, after the sprint race, there will be qualifying for the main race.
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The biggest casualty today was Fernando Alonso, who finished sixteenth in his Aston Martin. Norris impressed in the first two sessions with fast lap times, which the rest were nowhere near.
Pérez late again
For Sergio Pérez (Red Bull Racing) it was a day to forget for the umpteenth time. He crossed the line too late to set another lap time and was out in thirteenth place. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) also finished early with the eleventh fastest time.
In the third qualifying session, Norris opened with the fastest time, but Piastri went over it in his second attempt. Verstappen only completed one lap and finished fourth behind Leclerc.
Earlier on Friday, Norris set the fastest time in the only free practice in Sao Paulo. Verstappen aborted his fast lap.
It was also announced that Verstappen received the aforementioned grid penalty because he used his sixth combustion engine of the year. The penalty has no impact on the sprint race.
