Lando Norris continued his exceptional form, claiming pole position for the 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix after a dramatic Qualifying session that saw Max Verstappen make a shock exit in Q1. Norris delivered when it mattered most, setting a stunning 1:09.511 on his final flying lap to take his sixth pole of the season, narrowly beating Kimi Antonelli by 0.174s, with Charles Leclerc rounding out the top three.
What To Know?
- Norris took pole with 1:09.511, his sixth of the 2025 season.
- Verstappen was out in Q1 (P16), his first such exit since 2021.
- Antonelli P2, Leclerc P3, and Piastri P4 completed the top four.
Oscar Piastri, recovering well after his Sprint crash, secured fourth for McLaren, while Isack Hadjar impressed again with fifth for Racing Bulls, ahead of George Russell, Liam Lawson, Ollie Bearman, Pierre Gasly, and Nico Hülkenberg, who completed the top ten.
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The session began under tension, with repairs to the Turn 10 barriers delaying the start after several crashes in the earlier Sprint. Once Q1 got underway, most drivers opted for the soft tyres, with only Leclerc experimenting on mediums. Early pace came from Haas rookie Bearman, who briefly topped the timesheets with a 1:09.891 before the order shuffled rapidly as track grip improved. The main shock came from Verstappen, who struggled for balance and grip, running wide at Turn 9 and failing to escape the drop zone. His final effort fell short, leaving the four-time world champion a frustrated P16—his first Q1 elimination since 2021. Joining him on the sidelines were Ocon, Colapinto, Tsunoda, and Bortoleto, the latter unable to take part following his Sprint crash.
In Q2, Norris again went fastest with a 1:09.616, while Bearman continued to shine near the front and Antonelli slotted into third. However, Lewis Hamilton’s qualifying woes persisted as the Ferrari driver missed out on Q3, finishing P13 after dropping out of the top ten late in the session. The seven-time world champion, who had also exited early in Sprint Qualifying, was joined by Fernando Alonso, Alex Albon, Lance Stroll, and Carlos Sainz among the eliminated drivers. Hamilton’s frustration was compounded when a potential impeding incident with George Russell was noted by stewards—though no further action was taken.
That left ten cars to fight for pole in Q3, and for a while, it looked like Piastri might steal the spotlight with a 1:09.897, provisionally leading the timesheets by just 0.002s from Leclerc. But the final minutes brought another swing of momentum. Norris recovered from a scrappy opening lap—where a Turn 1 lock-up cost him dearly—to produce a scintillating final run, reclaiming the top spot with his 1:09.511. Antonelli delivered again under pressure to secure P2, locking in the same front row as Friday’s Sprint Qualifying, while Leclerc took third after briefly holding provisional pole. Piastri ended fourth, marking his first top-five grid start since Singapore, and Hadjar once again impressed with P5, splitting the Mercedes pair of Russell and Antonelli. Lawson, Bearman, Gasly, and Hülkenberg rounded out the top ten.
For Norris, the result was not only his sixth Grand Prix pole of 2025 but another key statement in a title race that continues to swing in his favour. Meanwhile, Verstappen’s P16 start sets up a huge recovery challenge at Interlagos—a circuit famed for unpredictability, mixed weather, and comeback drives.
2025 São Paulo GP Qualifying Results
2025 São Paulo Grand Prix Qualifying, 8 November 2025
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:09.656 | 1:09.616 | 1:09.511 | 21 |
| 2 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:10.192 | 1:09.774 | 1:09.685 | 16 |
| 3 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:09.934 | 1:09.801 | 1:09.805 | 22 |
| 4 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:09.928 | 1:09.835 | 1:09.886 | 19 |
| 5 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | 1:10.083 | 1:09.970 | 1:09.931 | 21 |
| 6 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:09.935 | 1:09.880 | 1:09.942 | 16 |
| 7 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:10.108 | 1:09.950 | 1:09.962 | 21 |
| 8 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas F1 Team | 1:09.891 | 1:09.755 | 1:09.977 | 19 |
| 9 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:09.885 | 1:09.857 | 1:10.002 | 21 |
| 10 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber | 1:10.337 | 1:09.985 | 1:10.039 | 23 |
| 11 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:10.181 | 1:10.001 | 15 | |
| 12 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 1:10.115 | 1:10.053 | 18 | |
| 13 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:10.016 | 1:10.100 | 16 | |
| 14 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:10.041 | 1:10.161 | 15 | |
| 15 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:10.184 | 1:10.472 | 17 | |
| 16 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 1:10.403 | 9 | ||
| 17 | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas F1 Team | 1:10.438 | 9 | ||
| 18 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 1:10.632 | 9 | ||
| 19 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing | 1:10.711 | 9 |
2025 São Paulo Grand Prix Starting Grid
The Grand Prix starting grid, with or without penalties, after the 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix Qualifying session.
After a dismal qualifying for Max Verstappen, he and Red Bull decided he would start the Sao Paulo Grand Prix from the pit lane after making several changes to his car. Red Bull elected to change Verstappen’s power unit and the set-up of his car, thereby breaking parc ferme regulations, so he would start from the pit lane.
In 2024, Verstappen produced an incredible drive through the field in the rain from 17th to victory. He would need another Interlagos miracle to stay in realistic title contention as he was now 39 points adrift of championship leader and pole-sitter Lando Norris.
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 1:09.511 |
| 2 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 1:09.685 |
| 3 | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 1:09.805 |
| 4 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 1:09.886 |
| 5 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | 1:09.931 |
| 6 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 1:09.942 |
| 7 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 1:09.962 |
| 8 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas F1 Team | 1:09.977 |
| 9 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 1:10.002 |
| 10 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber | 1:10.039 |
| 11 | 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin | 1:10.001 |
| 12 | 23 | Alexander Albon | Williams | 1:10.053 |
| 13 | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 1:10.100 |
| 14 | 18 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin | 1:10.161 |
| 15 | 55 | Carlos Sainz | Williams | 1:10.472 |
| 16 | 43 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine | 1:10.632 |
| 17 | 22 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing | 1:10.711 |
| 18 | 5 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber | No Time |
| Pitlane | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 1:10.403 |
| Pitlane | 31 | Esteban Ocon | Haas F1 Team | 1:10.438 |
2. Max Verstappen and Esteban Ocon started from the pit lane after qualifying 16th and 17th, respectively, after changes to their cars outside of the parc ferme rules.
Race Guide
Season: 2025 F1 World Championship
Race weekend: 7 November 2025 – 9 November 2025
Race date: Sunday, 9 November 2025
Race start time: 14:00 local time
Circuit: Interlagos – Autodromo Jose Carlo Pace
Laps: 71
Circuit length: 4.309km
2024 winner: Max Verstappen
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