Brazil GP: Norris pips both Red Bulls to sprint pole as Ocon collides with Alonso

Lando Norris took pole position, for the Sao Paulo Sprint Race, as the McLaren pipped both Red Bulls to the top spot with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez just behind.

SQ1 

Red Bull was the first to blink out of the pit lane as Max Verstappen pulled out onto the fast lane of his respective garage, ahead of his teammate Sergio Perez. The rest of the field slowly dripped out onto the circuit. All the drivers were obliged to utilise the medium compound tyres for the first and second sprint qualifying thirds.

Naturally, Verstappen was the first driver to put in the benchmark time of 1:11.888, which was a second slower than his pole lap yesterday as a result of the recent biblical storm. The triple world champion’s best time was quickly beaten by both Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) who went first and second respectively, ahead of the Dutchman.

The first third of qualifying was ended prematurely as the red flag was brought on. It was soon seen Esteban Ocon was stopped out at turn three in his wrecked Alpine machinery. Replays showed that Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso had clipped Ocon as the Frenchman drove by which sent the Alpine into a spin before it rear-ended the wall.

Ocon complained about Alonso after the incident, but footage was seen where the Alpine wrestled to regain control of his car on the exit of turn two before he found the wall after he rode too much kerb. With 16th at best, it meant Ocon was not able to qualify through to Sprint Qualifying 2.

Alonso also suffered a puncture, as a result of the contact, but managed to drive back to the pit lane.

Eliminated:

20. Logan Sargeant, Williams

19. Alexander Albon, Williams

18. Guanyu Zhou, Alfa Romeo

17. Lance Stroll, Aston Martin

16. Esteban Ocon, Alpine

SQ2

After a lengthy delay to the start of SQ2, as the track marshalls extracted Ocon’s wounded Alpine car and repaired the tyre barrier, the session finally got going once more.

In a similar instance of SQ1, Verstappen headed the queue as the field of drivers peeled out onto the circuit with their 10-minute qualifying third. When the pit exit light turned green, 10 of the 15 drivers ventured out on track. Only Ricciardo (Alpha Tauri), Alonso, Pierre Gasly (Alpine), Valtteri Bottas (Alfa Romeo) and Yuki Tsunoda (Alpha Tauri) remained in their respective garages.

As anticipated, Verstappen was the first to set a lap time on the board with a 1:11.449, he was soon joined by Sainz and Perez who occupied second and third. Only five drivers failed to set a lap time on the board after the banker laps, those being the ones who remained in their garage at the start of SQ2.

In the lull between the banking and final runs, it was reported Alonso was not going to be in attendance in SQ2 as a result of the damage sustained in his collision with Ocon.

Eliminated: 

15. Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin

14. Valtteri Bottas, Alfa Romeo

13. Pierre Gasly, Alpine

12. Nico Hulkenberg, Haas

11. Kevin Magnussen, Haas

SQ3

As per the regulations, the drivers were obliged to use the quicker and gripper soft compound tyres. However, when the pit exit light turned green, none of the 10 remaining drivers were eager to head out despite a limited amount of time.

After half the final third had passed, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri was the first to blink and returned to the fast lane inside the pits, followed by the remainder of the field bar Mercedes George Russell who opted to come out at the very last moment.

Naturally, Piastri was the first driver to put a lap time on the board with a 1:11.189 on used times. As a result of the worn tyres, the Australian tumbled down the order and found himself the slowest car of the top 10. On the other hand, the sister McLaren jumped to the top of the timing boards with an incredible 1:10.622.

A single tenth separated the top three as Norris took his sprint pole ahead of Verstappen and Perez, in second and third.

Top 10: 

10. Oscar Piastri, McLaren

9. Carlos Sainz, Ferrari

8. Daniel Ricciardo, Alpha Tauri

7. Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

6. Yuki Tsunoda, Alpha Tauri

5. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

4. George Russell, Mercedes

3. Sergio Perez, Red Bull

2. Max Verstappen, Red Bull

1. Lando Norris, McLaren

That’s all for the article; Brazil GP: Norris pips both Red Bulls to sprint pole as Ocon collides with Alonso!

Read more Formula 1 here:

• Scary scenes as grandstand roof rips off after Brazil GP storm
• Russell, Ocon, Gasly handed 2-place grid drop for impeding pit exit
• Brazil GP: Verstappen takes pole as bad weather ends qualifying early
• 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

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