Lando Norris has secured pole position for Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix after one of the most chaotic qualifying sessions in Formula 1 history.
After heavy rain prevented qualifying from taking place on Saturday, it was delayed until Sunday morning in the hope for more favourable conditions.
Instead, the drivers were presented with more of the same as a red flag was waved an incredible five times to extend the three sessions to almost one hour and 45 minutes.
Franco Colapinto, Carlos Sainz Jr, Lance Stroll, Fernando Alonso and Alexander Albon all crashed out at varying points to highlight the difficulty of the conditions in Sao Paulo.
That was a big impact 😵
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 3, 2024
Alex is out of the car and seems okay 🙏#F1 #BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/Xe0Nt7ORu0
The end result, however, was Norris coming out on top in qualifying for the seventh time this season to give his title challenge a further boost after winning Saturday's Sprint race.
Mercedes driver George Russell made it an all-British front row after a stellar hot lap on the back of the final resumption.
Yuki Tsunoda, Esteban Ocon and Liam Lawson - the Alpine sandwiched between two RBs - makes it one of the more unlikely top fives of the season.
Ferrari's Charles Leclerc had to make do with sixth, with Albon, Oscar Piastri, Alonso and Stroll completing the top 10.
QUALIFYING CLASSIFICATION
— Formula 1 (@F1) November 3, 2024
The final result from an unbelievable session 👀#F1 #BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/wvDeMMffIa
What happened to Verstappen?
Championship leader Max Verstappen will start in 17th position on the grid, not helped by a five-place penalty handed to him earlier in the week.
One of the red flags cost the Dutchman the chance to post a final hot lap in Q2 with both Red Bull drivers being eliminated in that session, Sergio Perez being promoted to 12th spot.
Lewis Hamilton went out in Q1 but will start in 15th place, just in front of Verstappen in what may prove to be an intriguing battle as they look to make their way through the field.
Darren Plant
