Lando Norris secured pole position for the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix after a rain-hit qualifying session at Interlagos produced crashes, red flags and major changes to the starting order. The McLaren driver delivered a decisive lap of 1:27.470 to claim the top spot, while several championship contenders face challenging starts because of engine-related penalties.

The result sets up an intriguing race on Sunday, November 8, with newly crowned world champion Kimi Antonelli and Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson also moving into favourable positions following penalties for other competitors.

Rain turns qualifying into an Interlagos survival test

Heavy rainfall delayed the start of qualifying by more than an hour, with standing water and the risk of aquaplaning making conditions difficult for the drivers.

The session eventually resumed, but the changing track conditions continued to complicate proceedings. Haas rookie Rafael Câmara crashed during Q2, triggering a red flag and bringing the session to an early conclusion. Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto had also suffered a crash earlier in qualifying, adding to a difficult afternoon for the home crowd.

Oscar Piastri was among the notable casualties, failing to progress beyond Q2. Norris, meanwhile, maintained his composure and produced the fastest lap when it mattered most.

Verstappen dominates practice but faces a difficult race

Max Verstappen had looked particularly strong earlier in the day, finishing fastest in the third and final practice session with a time of 1:11.622.

The Red Bull driver edged Antonelli by just 0.025 seconds, while Norris finished third. However, Verstappen's practice pace could not translate into a favourable starting position because of a back-of-the-grid penalty following extensive power-unit changes. Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc also face significant grid drops after exceeding their permitted engine allocations. Mercedes driver George Russell has a five-place penalty.

LANDO NORRIS TAKES POLE IN SAO PAULO! 🇧🇷👊#F1 #BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/Y8SBv5fI5z

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 7, 2026

Lando Norris’ visor cam shows just how wet the track was before the session was stopped at Interlagos. 🤯🌧️

Visibility is absolutely brutal.#F1 | #BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/oXIJgfy5YL

— Everything Formula (@evrythngformu1a) November 7, 2026

Norris leads as penalties reshape the starting order

Norris will start from pole, with Antonelli promoted to second after Russell's five-place demotion. Lawson moves into third, followed by Nico Hülkenberg.

The adjusted positions give McLaren and Mercedes an opportunity to fight for victory, although the weather could make the race unpredictable. Verstappen and Hamilton will have substantial ground to recover, while Leclerc also faces a difficult challenge from further down the grid.

When is the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix?

The 71-lap São Paulo Grand Prix takes place on Sunday, November 8, at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos. The race is scheduled to begin at 5pm UK time.

With rain remaining a possibility, Norris will have to convert his pole position into a strong opening stint while keeping an eye on Antonelli and the recovering championship contenders. After such a chaotic qualifying session, Interlagos could deliver another unpredictable Formula 1 contest.