São Paulo – Wet Formula 1 qualifying in São Paulo produced different results for Ferrari on the track and on the starting grid. Charles Leclerc set the fourth-fastest time on Saturday, 7 November. A new internal combustion engine means he drops ten places to start Sunday’s Grand Prix from 14th. Lewis Hamilton starts 20th for Ferrari. Lando Norris leads the field in a McLaren, with the new world champion Kimi Antonelli from Bologna alongside him.
Heavy rain forced race control to suspend qualifying shortly after it began. The rain intensified again in the final segment. By then, Norris had already completed a lap in 1:27.470 minutes, securing his fourth pole position of the season. George Russell set the second-fastest lap in the other Mercedes. Because he too loses five places after an engine change, his teammate Antonelli moves up from third to second on the grid.
Russell starts seventh. Liam Lawson in the Racing Bulls and Nico Hülkenberg in the Audi form the second row. For Antonelli, it is his first race since securing the drivers’ title in Mexico.
Engine changes push Ferrari back in São Paulo
Leclerc had reached the final qualifying segment with a lap on intermediate tyres, which are used in damp conditions, in the second qualifying segment. The Monegasque remained fourth in the final stage. His grid drop for the engine change applies regardless of that result. Leclerc lines up alongside his former teammate Carlos Sainz, who starts 13th in the Williams.
Ferrari replaced Hamilton’s entire power unit. The Briton was eliminated in the second qualifying segment but had set a valid time. Following a review of the starting grid by the FIA, motorsport’s governing body, he is one place ahead of Max Verstappen, whose Red Bull also received new power-unit components. The race at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos is scheduled for Sunday at 18 hours Central European Time.
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