Brazilian GP 2026: Norris on pole in wet Interlagos

Lando Norris took reported pole after a long rain delay at Interlagos, while penalties for Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc reshaped the grid.

Lando Norris took reported pole for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after a wet qualifying session at Interlagos was delayed by nearly 90 minutes, according to BBC Sport and Autosport. BBC Sport also reported that Norris described it as some of the wettest conditions he had driven in. Norris arrived in Brazil sixth in the 2026 drivers' championship on 246 points, and the McLaren driver had 16 poles and 11 wins in Formula 1 before the weekend.

The grid was also reshaped by penalties. BBC Sport reported that Max Verstappen and Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were due to start from the back, while Autosport reported engine-change penalties for Verstappen, Hamilton and Leclerc, plus a five-place drop for George Russell. Verstappen came into the weekend second in the standings on 279 points, while Andrea Kimi Antonelli led the championship on 390.

BBC Sport framed the Sao Paulo weekend as an early marker for the next title fight. With the event still treated here as an emerging roundup, this report stays with the qualifying outcome and the published grid changes rather than presenting later race developments as confirmed fact.