Max Verstappen’s Method 1 drivers’ championship defence has taken one other blow, with the Dutchman set to begin the Sao Paulo Grand Prix from seventeenth.
Verstappen certified twelfth quickest after being denied the flexibility to complete a flying lap to get into Q3 after a crimson flag was referred to as following a crash by Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll.
Regardless of being twelfth quickest, Verstappen will begin seventeenth after taking a five-place grid penalty for utilizing a brand new engine.
McLaren’s Lando Norris claimed pole forward of the Mercedes of George Russell.
Each RB automobiles, the sister staff of Verstappen’s Pink Bull Racing, locked out the second row with Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson qualifying third and fourth.
There have been 5 crimson flag stoppages all through the close to two-hour session as rain brought about havoc.
Qualifying was postponed after torrential rain compelled organisers to maneuver it from Saturday afternoon, the normal slot, to the next day.
The session started at 7:30am (9:30pm AEDT) with the grand prix additionally pushed ahead on account of extra heavy rain being predicted within the area on Sunday afternoon.
The race will start at 2:30am AEDT, 90 minutes sooner than scheduled, with torrential rain anticipated late within the afternoon in Sao Paulo.
Yellow flags had been being waved across the Stroll incident as race management seemingly tried to permit as many drivers as potential to complete their flying laps in Q2.
There have been 40 seconds between the crash and the crimson flag being waved.
Nevertheless, the crimson flag got here out as Verstappen was nonetheless roughly 30 seconds away from the end line.
The Dutchman was visibly ropeable in his cockpit on the crimson flag, whereas his championship rival made it by way of Q2.
“The automotive hits the wall, it must be straight crimson. I do not perceive why it must take 30, 40 seconds for a crimson flag to return out,” Verstappen mentioned after qualifying.
“It is so silly anyway to speak about, it is ridiculous.”
Norris solely survived Q1 by simply two-tenths of a second on the expense of seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who wrestled his Mercedes to simply sixteenth quickest.
Argentine Franco Colapinto was the primary crash into the limitations, halting the session as monitor marshals labored to take away the Williams automotive from the aspect of the circuit.
Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz was one other sufferer of the rain, crashing out in Q2 simply seven days after claiming victory on the Mexico Metropolis Grand Prix.
Fernando Alonso and Alex Albon additionally had crashes, with Albon’s fairly violent and appeared to shake-up the Thai-registered driver.
Norris gained yesterday’s dash after his Australian teammate Oscar Piastri, who began on pole and led for 21 laps of the 24-lap race, handed him first place underneath staff orders.
The Brit entered the weekend 47 factors adrift of three-time defending world champion Max Verstappen, with three race weekends left after this.
Norris’s win and Verstappen’s fourth-place end allowed the Brit to cut back the deficit to 44 factors with 4 grands prix and one dash race left within the season.
Verstappen crossed the road third within the dash race, however was handed a five-second penalty post-race for violating the velocity restrict underneath the digital security automotive.
With green-flag situations imminent and Verstappen eager to make a transfer on Piastri, the Dutchman wrongly anticipated the restart and was compelled to decelerate or danger overtaking the Australian.
He slowed down, however when green-flag situations resumed Verstappen was then underneath the minimal velocity drivers are required to keep up.
The session began with all drivers on full-wet tyres as they tip-toed across the Interlagos circuit.
