Sao Paulo Grand Prix: Norris and Russell anticipate rain

Lando Norris stated that qualifying for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix featured "some of the wettest conditions" he had ever experienced and expressed hope for more rain during the race. This marked the third consecutive year in which Norris secured pole position in Brazil, a session that was halted for nearly an hour and a half due to hazardous conditions.

George Russell, who qualified second, expressed frustration over a miscommunication within his team that he felt deprived him of pole position. He remarked, "Q1 was extremely challenging. The visibility was zero down the straight into Turn Four. I was wheel-spinning in fifth gear, over 200km/h (120mph), aquaplaning. When you're aquaplaning on the straight and you can't see in front of you, it's... I'm not even sure what the word is to describe it. It does seem a bit crazy. I love driving in the rain, but at some point, if that was a race, we shouldn't be driving under those conditions due to the high risk of severe incidents."

The wet conditions, combined with grid penalties applied to four usual front-runners, led to an uncommon race grid, with several drivers capitalizing on the adverse weather to achieve their best results of the year. Liam Lawson from Racing Bulls and Nico Hulkenberg from Audi occupied the second row, while Oliver Bearman from Haas secured sixth. Fernando Alonso from Aston Martin and Alex Albon from Williams also made it into the top ten, marking their best performances in 2026.

Lewis Hamilton from Ferrari and Max Verstappen from Red Bull, who had previously won the race from 17th on the grid under wet conditions two years earlier, will start 20th and 21st due to engine replacements exceeding their annual allowance. Additionally, Charles Leclerc from Hamilton's team qualified fourth but faces a 10-place penalty for engine usage.

The forecast for Sunday predicts light rain, adding to the unpredictable weather anticipated at the Interlagos track. Norris had not secured pole since the Spanish Grand Prix in September, stating, "We're lucky it's wet because if it was dry, I wouldn't be sitting here. In dry conditions, we definitely didn't have the pace."

He concluded his remarks by assuring that the likelihood of rain during the race could lead to an exciting event involving various challenging conditions, allowing skilled drivers to potentially showcase their talents.

Russell, meanwhile, was disappointed following a season filled with challenges, with his teammate Kimi Antonelli clinching the world title. He felt a missed opportunity for pole position due to being instructed to back off after encountering Albon on track. Despite his frustration, he affirmed his confidence and noted the importance of performing well in wet conditions.

In reference to Alonso's struggles with the underperforming Aston Martin-Honda, this qualifying session allowed him a moment to shine, demonstrating his skill despite a challenging season.