Norris takes Sao Paulo pole in rain as penalties shake up grid

Lando Norris took pole for the São Paulo Grand Prix, beating George Russell by 0.204 seconds in rain-hit qualifying at Interlagos. Russell’s five-place engine penalty moves newly crowned champion Kimi Antonelli alongside Norris on the front row, with Liam Lawson promoted to third and Nico Hülkenberg to fourth. Max Verstappen, who topped final practice, faces a back-row start after engine changes; Lewis Hamilton will also start at the back after a replacement engine failed and Ferrari fitted another power unit. Charles Leclerc and other drivers also face grid demotions for power-unit penalties, reshuffling the grid for an expected wet race. Russell protested his team’s instruction to abandon a final qualifying lap, saying it cost him a chance at pole.