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F1 LIVE | Follow qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix
Formula 1 qualifying for the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix is about to take place. McLaren got the better of their F1 rivals during qualifying for the sprint race, but changes have been made to the cars. Will Ferrari and Red Bull bite back? Lando Norris will be desperate to start ahead of his rival Max Verstappen as he looks at the wider picture in the Formula 1 World Championship. Follow live updates here.
F1 LIVE | Qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix
What has happened so far this weekend?
Lando Norris finished fastest in the first and only free practice session, but Max Verstappen was set to go faster before pulling out in the third sector. The Red Bull Racing driver thus kept his powder dry on the soft tyre and finished 14th fastest. Norris finished one-tenth faster than second-placed George Russell, with Oliver Bearman finishing third fastest. The young British driver has replaced Kevin Magnussen at Haas this weekend after the Danish driver was sick.
Oscar Piastri topped sprint qualifying at Interlagos and will start from pole position in the Sprint event. Lando Norris will join the Australian on the front row of the grid, while Charles Leclerc rounded off the top 3. Except for the two McLaren drivers, everybody had only a single shot in SQ3 at Interlagos. Norris could not win the session, but will start ahead of his title rival Verstappen on Saturday, as the Dutchman finished in P4. Carlos Sainz finished in P5, ahead of George Russell.
The fourth row of the grid is made up of Pierre Gasly and Liam Lawson, Alex Albon finished in P9 after knocking out Hamilton in SQ2. After making a mistake in Sector 1, Oliver Bearman will start the Sprint from P10. Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez both failed to escape SQ2.
After McLaren's team orders, Lando Norris won the Sprint in Brazil ahead of Piastri and Max Verstappen. The Dutchman however was given a five-second penalty for VSC infringement, and therefore, got relegated to P4 behind Charles Leclerc. Currently, the gap between the two drivers stands at 44 points.
What is the situation in the Formula 1 World Championship?
Lando Norris is currently trying to bridge a 44-point gap to Max Verstappen in the World Championship, but time is drastically running out for the McLaren driver. There are now just four Grands Prix and one sprint race remaining. Even if he wins every event, he will need Max Verstappen to be beaten by his teammate, Ferrari and/or maybe even Mercedes.
In the Constructors' Championship, Ferrari are trying to hunt down McLaren. While Red Bull are trying to find their feet after dropping to P3.