SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 08: Pole position qualifier Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren and Second placed qualifier Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team talk in parc ferme during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 08, 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Mario Renzi – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Formula 1 via Getty Images
Lando Norris continued his strong run of form this weekend, clinching pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo.
After claiming a sprint victory from pole in the morning, the McLaren driver posted a lap time of 1m 09.511s in grand prix qualifying later in the day to secure his 15th career pole position and his sixth this season.
Starting right behind him is Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes, who has been having an impressive weekend himself. The young Italian started and finished the sprint in second place and later secured the same position in qualifying, finishing just 0.174s off his first pole.
Charles Leclerc will line up in third for Ferrari, looking to make it a third podium finish in a row after securing third and second in Austin and Mexico City respectively.
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL – NOVEMBER 08: Pole position qualifier Lando Norris of Great Britain and McLaren Second placed qualifier Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy and Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team and Third placed qualifier Charles Leclerc of Monaco and Scuderia Ferrari during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 08, 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Mark Sutton – Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)
Formula 1 via Getty Images
Title contender Oscar Piastri had a rough start to the day after crashing out of the sprint but managed to bounce back by going quickest early in Q3. His teammate swooped in to take pole in the closing seconds of qualifying however, leaving Piastri to settle for fourth.
Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson both had solid outings, finishing fifth and seventh respectively, with George Russell of Mercedes sandwiched between them in sixth. Rounding out the top 10 are Oliver Bearman, Pierre Gasly, and Nico Hulkenberg.
Elsewhere, it was a shocking outing for title contender Max Verstappen who found himself knocked out from Q1 for the first time since 2021. It also marked a first in his career where he was eliminated from Q1 due to car pace rather than a malfunction or crash. Starting from a lowly 16th, the Dutchman will need to put in a big effort to stay close to the frontrunners in the standings.
Lewis Hamilton also had a tough qualifying session, getting eliminated from Q2 for the second time this weekend. The seven-time world champion will start the race from 13th on the grid for Ferrari.
2025 F1 Brazilian Grand Prix Starting Grid
Here’s the starting order for Sunday’s race at Interlagos, Sao Paulo:
- Lando Norris (McLaren): 1:09.511
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes): +0.174
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): +0.294
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren): +0.375
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls): +0.420
- George Russell (Mercedes): +0.431
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls): +0.451
- Oliver Bearman (Haas): +0.466
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine): +0.491
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber): +0.528
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- Alexander Albon (Williams)
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
- Carlos Sainz (Williams)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
- Esteban Ocon (Haas)
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull Racing)
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)