The Dutchman was the fastest in Interlagos qualifying, doing well to come out straight away in Q3 and set the time ahead of the red Monegasque. Then Stroll and Alonso, Sainz is seventh after Russell’s penalty
– Sao Paulo (Brazil)
We had to be faster than the rain, needless to say, Max Verstappen managed to do it. The Dutchman from Red Bull he was the fastest in Q3 of qualifying for the Brazilian GP, good at getting on track immediately to set his time and get ahead of all his rivals before a storm broke out on the Interlagos track. Ferrari tried to be equally fast, but Charles Leclerc had to settle for second place, a front row that confirms the quality of the SF-23 on a single lap. Carlos Sainz junior was unluckier and instead had to start seventh.
twice as good
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In reality, Verstappen was good twice. Not only for his speed on the track, but also for how he handled his Red Bull in difficult track conditions, with asphalt that didn’t heat up the tires, even though it wasn’t yet wet. It was a challenge for the drivers, Leclerc himself admitted that he couldn’t manage his Ferrari like in a traditional lap. Verstappen’s pole lap of 1’10″727, so to speak, was worse than the Q1 and Q2 times with which Max qualified for Q3.
the Astons are good
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A good day, however, for Aston Martin, who placed Lance Stroll in third place ahead of Fernando Alonso. Today’s disappointments are certainly Mercedes, with Hamilton and Russell in fifth and eighth place (actually sixth, but then penalized for not having respected the instructions agreed with the stewards to keep to the left as much as possible when exiting the box), and the McLarens, with Lando Norris 6th and Oscar Piastri only 10th behind the Red Bull of Sergio Perez, ninth. Tomorrow at 3pm the Sprint qualification, at 7.30pm the Sprint.
qualifying times
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Qualifying times for the Brazilian GP:
1. Verstappen (Red Bull) 1’10″727
2. Leclerc (Ferrari) 1’11″021
3. Stroll (Aston Martin) 1’11″344
4. Alonso (Aston Martin) 1’11″387
5. Hamilton (Mercedes) 1’11″469
6. Russell (Mercedes) 1’11″590
7. Norris (McLaren) 1’11″987
8. Sainz (Ferrari) 1’11″989
9. Perez (Red Bull) 1’12″321
10. Plates (McLaren) st
11. Hulkenberg (Haas) 1’10″547
12. Ocon (Alpine) 1’10″562
13. Gasly (Alpine) 1’10″567
14. Magnussen (Haas) 1’10″723
15. Albon (Williams) 1’10″840
16. Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) 1’10″837
17. Ricciardo (AlphaTauri) 1’10″843
18. Bottas (Alfa Romeo) 1’10″955
19. Sargeant (Williams) 1’11″035
20. Zhou (Alfa Romeo) 1’11″275
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