McLaren’s outgoing world champion Lando Norris grabbed pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix with a brave and well-judged drive in Saturday’s rainswept qualifying at Interlagos.

The 26-year-old Briton outpaced Mercedes’ George Russell by 0.204 seconds to claim his third consecutive pole at Interlagos in a storm-hit session that lasted two-and-a-half hours.

Grid penalty

New world champion Kimi Antonelli was third for Mercedes, but he will start Sunday’s race from the front row as Russell faces a five-place grid penalty for taking new power-unit components.

It is the 20th pole position of Norris’s career and his third in succession in Brazil.

Charles Leclerc was fourth for Ferrari but also faces a penalty of 10 places for taking a new engine.

Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson was fifth ahead of Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg, Isack Hadjar of Red Bull and Oliver Bearman’s Haas.

Two-time champion Fernando Alonso was ninth for Aston Martin and Alex Albon 10th for Williams.

Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari qualified 11th, but also faces a penalty for taking two new engines on Saturday and will start from the back of the grid while four-time champion Max Verstappen, who also has a 20-place penalty, was 16th for Red Bull.

Sunday’s race is due to start at 19:00 (SA time).

Cadillac’s Finnish driver Valtteri Bottas races through the rain during qualifying for the Sao Paulo Formula One Grand Prix. Image: Miguel SCHINCARIOL / AFP

The starting grid for Sunday’s SAO PAULO Grand Prix following qualifying

1st row

Lando Norris (GBR/McLaren-Mercedes)

Kimi Antonelli (ITA/Mercedes)

2nd row

Liam Lawson (NZL/Racing Bulls-Red Bull)

Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Audi)

3rd row

Isack Hadjar (FRA/Red Bull)

Oliver Bearman (GBR/Haas-Ferrari)

4th row

George Russell (GBR/Mercedes)

Fernando Alonso (ESP/Aston Martin-Honda)

5th row

Alexander Albon (THA/Williams-Mercedes)

Oscar Piastri (AUS/McLaren-Mercedes)

6th row

Rafael Câmara (BRA/Haas-Ferrari)

Arvid Lindblad (GBR/Racing Bulls-Red Bull)

7th row

Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Williams-Mercedes)

Charles Leclerc (MON/Ferrari)

8th row

Franco Colapinto (ARG/Alpine-Mercedes)

Pierre Gasly (FRA/Alpine-Mercedes)

9th row

Lance Stroll (CAN/Aston Martin-Honda)

Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Cadillac-Ferrari)

10th row

Gabriel Bortoleto (BRA/Audi)

Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Ferrari)

11th row

Max Verstappen (NED/Red Bull)

Sergio Perez (MEX/Cadillac-Ferrari)

Note: Five drivers received grid penalties for engine component changes – George Russell (5 places penalty), Charles Leclerc (10 places). Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez start at the back of the grid as all three had their entire power units replaced.