Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2025 Qualifying: Norris Takes Pole As Verstappen Struggles

It’s shaping up to be a big weekend for Formula 1 leader Lando Norris, and a frustrating one for four-time champion Max Verstappen. The McLaren driver widened the gap to teammate Oscar Piastri to nine points by winning the sprint race of the Brazilian Grand Prix on Saturday and followed it up by also taking pole position for Sunday’s grid. Verstappen, meanwhile, all but gave up hope of earning a fifth straight F1 title after only finishing 16th in qualifying. With three races left after this weekend, he is 39 points behind going into Sunday after coming fourth in the sprint race. Norris beat Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli in qualifying by 0.174 seconds at the partially wet Interlagos track. His teammate Piastri — who failed to finish the sprtin race — will start from fourth position.

Updated on: 9 November 2025 2:08 pm

Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2025 qualifying session-McLaren driver Lando Norris

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain celebrates finishing first during the qualifying session ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track, in Sao Paulo. | Photo: AP/Andre Penner

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Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2025 qualifying session-Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli

Second-place finisher Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli of Italy celebrates during the qualifying session ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track, in Sao Paulo. | Photo: AP/Ettore Chiereguini

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Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2025 qualifying session-Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco

First-place finisher McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, left, and third-place finisher Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco celebrate during the qualifying session ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track, in Sao Paulo. | Photo: AP/Andre Penner

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Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2025 qualifying session-Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco drives during the qualifying session ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track, in Sao Paulo. | Photo: AP/Ettore Chiereguini

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Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2025 qualifying session-Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain drives during the qualifying session ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track, in Sao Paulo. | Photo: AP/Andre Penner

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Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2025 qualifying session-McLaren driver Oscar Piastri

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, front, drives during the qualifying session ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track, in Sao Paulo. | Photo: AP/Andre Penner

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Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2025 qualifying session-Charles Leclerc of Monaco

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco drives during the qualifying session ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track, in Sao Paulo. | Photo: AP/Andre Penner

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Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2025 qualifying session-Red Bull driver Max Verstappen

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands drives during the qualifying session ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track, in Sao Paulo. | Photo: AP/Ettore Chiereguini

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Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2025 qualifying session-McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain, front, drives during the qualifying session ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track, in Sao Paulo. | Photo: AP/Ettore Chiereguini

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Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2025 qualifying session-Williams driver Alexander Albon

Williams driver Alexander Albon of Thailand drives during the qualifying session ahead of the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix at the Interlagos race track, in Sao Paulo. | Photo: AP/Andre Penner