Brazil GP: Verstappen takes pole as bad weather ends qualifying early

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has taken the Brazilian pole position, for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, as extreme weather ends qualifying prematurely.

Q1

After a 15-minute delay to the start of Q1, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri headed out into the fast lane of the pits – on used soft tyres – as the rest of the field filtered in behind the young Australian rookie. As a result of the new rule which stops the drivers from stopping inside the pit lane, to build a gap, the bulk of the field slowly trundled out onto the Brazilian track.

Naturally, Piastri was the first to cross the timing beam to start his first flying lap. While the rest of the drivers filtered out on track, Piastri was met by a handful of cars on their out laps. However, this did not hinder the young Aussie as he set a quick 1:11.494 lap. This was soon beaten by the likes of Max Verstappen (Red Bull), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Lando Norris

Mercedes’ George Russell was under investigation by the stewards for impeding, with just over 10 minutes to go. Replays showed Alpine’s Pierre Gasly had built up speed on his run through the pit exit but a slow-moving Mercedes soon met him. This forced the Frenchman to slam onto the brakes and veer onto the grass verge slightly, to avoid contact.

The track continued to evolve, as the skies continued to darken due to the pending weather, and the times tumbled. When the chequered flag fell Russell topped the timing boards ahead of Verstappen and Ferraris Charles Leclerc, in second and third respectively.

Eliminated: 

20. Gunayu Zhou, Alfa Romeo

19. Logan Sargeant, Williams

18. Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo

17. Daniel Ricciardo, Alpha Tauri 

16. Yuki Tsunoda, Alpha Tauri

Q2

Rain began to threaten the session, as a result, a number of drivers peeled straight out onto the pit lane and waited for the exit light to turn green. Both Red Bulls headed the queue at the pit exit both drivers were on brand new, shiny, soft compound tyres.

Of the opening banker laps, Verstappen put in the fastest lap on the board of a 1:10.162 ahead of both McLarens of Norris and Piastri who were second and third respectively. Sergio Perez, Red Bull, sat in fourth two-tenths off the pace.

Williams’ Alexander Albon, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Both Ferrari’s of Leclerc and Carlos Sainz sat in the elimination zone, in 11th, 12th 13th and 15th respectively. The two Ferraris were split by the Mercedes of George Russell, in 14th.

By the end of the third, Norris topped the timing boards with a quick 1:10.021 lap time as the two Red Bulls rounded out the top 10 with Verstappen and Perez in second and third respectively.

Eliminated: 

15. Alexander Albon, Williams

14. Kevin Magnussen, Haas

13. Pierre Gasly, Alpine

12. Esteban Ocon, Alpine

11. Nico Hulkenberg, Haas

Q3

As the skies continued to darken, the majority of the field was in the pit lane as they eagerly waited for the pit exit light to turn green. It was reported by Ferrari that the rain was expected to fall seven minutes into the session. The last of the drivers soon filtered out on track.

While the dark, black clouds loomed overhead, the drivers rushed out to get their first lap times under their belt – all with fresh new tyres. Verstappen took provisional pole ahead of. The yellow was brought out in the final proper corner, at T12, as Piastri suffered a snap of overseer and found himself off the circuit.

As the climatic conditions changed, drastically, the clouds blocked out a considerable amount of daylight to leave the circuit in significant darkness. Thunder and lightning quickly joined the fold. As a result of the drastic change in weather, race control

Top 10:

10. Oscar Piastri, McLaren

9. Sergio Perez, Red Bull

8. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari

7. Lando Norris, McLaren

6. George Russell, Mercedes

5. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

4. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin

3. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin

2. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

1. Max Verstappen, Red Bull

That’s all for the article; Brazil GP: Verstappen takes pole as bad weather ends qualifying early!

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Verstappen breaks own record with 16th win this season at Mexico GP
• Fight erupts at Mexico Grand Prix amongst fans
• Mexico GP: Ferrari lock-out front row as drivers undergo investigations
• Mexcio GP: Verstappen completes clean sweep of practice as Williams show pace
• Mexico GP: Verstappen sweeps Friday practice as fastest driver despite light drizzle
• Mexico GP: Verstappen fastest as Albon slips in 0.095s behind

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