Lando Norris gave another blow in qualifying for the San Pablo sprint

The Englishman took pole position and will seek to increase his minimal advantage of one point over Oscar Piastri, who will start third. In the middle, Kimi Antonelli. Max Verstappen, just sixth.

Moderate was Lando Norris’ celebration after taking pole for the sprint race of the San Pablo GP, the 21st round of Formula 1. The same scenario was experienced in the McLaren team, no huge celebrations. There are at least two reasons. One, it is the short race of the weekend, the one that awards the fewest points. The other, that rain is announced for Saturday and any reminiscences with 2024 will want to be removed by the people of Woking.

Last year’s São Paulo race had a deep impact on Norris and McLaren. The Englishman achieved pole position for the main underwater competition and Max Verstappen, who was leading the tournament, but his Red Bull languished, finishing 17th, after serving a penalty. Result: the Englishman could not wear his MCL38 because of the grayness and the Dutchman signed one of his most memorable triumphs. Norris will probably spend Friday night lighting candles to prevent water from falling during the short competition.

But beyond the doubts that the weather may generate, Norris can deal a strong blow in his fight for the World Cup. He comes from achieving an overwhelming victory in Mexico, which allowed him to surpass his teammate Oscar Piastri by one point. The difference is minimal, but moments mark contexts. The Australian has been going strong in recent weekends, while the Englishman’s shares are on the rise.

Norris clocked 1m09s243 to keep the best time and beat Kimi Antonelli by 97 thousandths, the Italian who entered the fight with his Mercedes. The short races suit the Bolognese, who had achieved the best starting box in Miami. Piastri was third and lost 185 thousandths to Norris. The distance is small, but it is also a low-time track (less than 70 seconds). Piastri urgently needs a performance that will embolden him and take him out of the trance he is going through, although some determinations seem to show that in Woking they would see a title with Norris, the boy who came from the youth teams, in a better light than with Piastri.

And Max Verstappen? The Dutchman came fast in his last attempt, as if to fight for a position in the front row, but he closed a very bad third set and finished sixth. The four-time champion does not have much margin in his dream of fighting for the fifth crown. He arrived in Brazil 36 points behind Norris, with 116 at stake. “This is unmanageable, something is broken,” Max bellowed over the radio in the midst of his frustration. The driver of the Milton Keynes team must try to advance because just as in 2024 he declared his title in Brazil, this year he can say goodbye to the fight.

At Ferrari they continue with the changed pace. Lewis Hamilton was left out in Q2 because he had to lift in the last sector due to a spin by… Charles Leclerc! The Monegasque forced the Englishman to get up, who finished 11th. And Charles will only start eighth, behind Lance Stroll (Aston Martin put both cars in Q3, with Fernando Alonso fifth) and ahead of Isack Hadjar and Nico Hülkenberg. Gabriel Bortoleto, the local driver, will start 14th with the Sauber.