The Australian pilot Oscar Piastri (McLaren) will start in the first position of the sprint race of the Sao Paulo Formula One Grand PrixBrazil, which will be held on Saturday, winning by just 0.029 seconds over his teammate, the British Lando Norris.
The Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) will start in third position, ahead of the three-time world champion and championship leader, the Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), after the classification carried out this Friday at the Interlagos Racecourse.
“It’s been good… I’m not surprised by our pace. We felt confident here since this morning,” said Piastri, 23.
The good performance of the McLaren It puts pressure on “Mad Max” in his attempt to win his fourth consecutive world title, with four races remaining in the season and with Norris, his main pursuer in the table, 47 points behind.
“I’m simply focused on my own work and that’s it. I’m not interested in Max’s position,” said the Briton at the end of qualifying.
Verstappen, under pressure
With Norris putting pressure on him in the fight for the title, Verstappen He complained of problems with his front wing, a problem that is added to the five-place penalty for the start of the Grand Prix that was imposed earlier.
“There are a lot of potholes here and that doesn’t suit our car well,” said the Dutchman, an apparent victim of the renewed asphalt of the circuit on which he won in 2019 and 2023.
The Spanish Carlos Sainz (Ferrari), winner of the race in Mexico last Sunday, will start fifth, ahead of the British George Russell (Mercedes).
Replacing the Dane Kevin Magnussen, absent this Friday due to illness, the young British Oliver Bearman (Haas), 19, surprised by taking tenth place.
“Checo” Pérez, outside the Top-10
For his part, the Mexican pilot Sergio “Checo” Pérez He once again had a performance below what is expected from a Red Bull car and took 13th place, one position ahead of the Argentine revelation, Franco Colapinto (Williams).
The Spanish Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), absent from media activities on Thursday due to physical discomfort, was eliminated in EQ1 and will start in 16th position.
The penultimate sprint race of the season will be held on Saturday starting at 11:00 local time, four hours before qualifying for Sunday’s Grand Prix takes place.
