The starting grid for the sprint race in Brazil promises a spectacle. Lando Norris starts from pole position and seems to be the man to beat. Title rivals Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen start from third and sixth positions respectively. Can they make life difficult for Norris on the Interlagos circuit?
Next to the championship leader, Mercedes talent Kimi Antonelli is on the front row, impressing with his qualifying performance and leaving other top drivers in his wake. On the second starting row, Oscar Piastri and George Russell are lined up, followed by Fernando Alonso and Max Verstappen.
The Dutchman complained about vibrations in the RB21 and will have to fight to move up. Rain or shine, many fans hope that the reigning champion will put on another show in Interlagos. Verstappen himself is less optimistic: “I had hoped I would have a better car. With how it feels now, I don’t think it will be pleasant in the rain either.”
Rear of the Grid for Sainz
Then there are a few disappointments on the grid. Lewis Hamilton, an honorary citizen of Brazil, starts from P11 in his Ferrari. Liam Lawson didn’t get further than P17 in qualifying, while his teammate Isack Hadjar impressively made it to P9. But that’s still better than Yuki Tsunoda. The Japanese driver disappointed again and we find him only at the eighteenth spot on the starting grid. Carlos Sainz, given his ranting over the team radio, clearly expected more and starts the race from the back in his Williams.
The ingredients for chaos are present: potentially changing conditions, a short race, and a grid full of surprises. The sprint race starts today at 13:00 UTC.
