Brazilian GP 2024: Lando Norris on pole, Max Verstappen starts 17th

McLaren's Lando Norris took pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in a chaotic, accident-riddled qualifying session in which Max Verstappen finished 12th.

The Red Bull driver will receive a five-place grid penalty for Sunday's Grand Prix and will therefore start 17th, although he may make a move forward if some of the damaged cars are unable to start the race.

Mercedes driver George Russell secured second place alongside Norris, Yuki Tsunoda's RB came third, ahead of Alpine's Esteban Ocon and RB's Liam Lawson.

The session was punctuated by five red flags for serious accidents involving Williams' Franco Colapinto, Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, the two Aston Martin drivers Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso, and Williams' Alex Albon.

Verstappen was angry at the delay in raising the red flag for Stroll's accident in the second session, which he said had allowed other drivers to knock him out of the top 10 because the session did not resume.

And Norris himself almost went out in the first session – he found himself in the drop zone before jumping to 15th on his final lap, the last car to advance.

This time, however, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, who qualified 16th, was knocked out.

Norris said: “It was busy. At the beginning of the session I had big problems, I worked on it a lot during the session. A little surprised to be on pole, but a good result for us.”

Verstappen complained that the delay had allowed other drivers to push him out of the top 10.

“I think it’s unbelievable,” said Verstappen. “The car crashes into the wall. It’s clearly destroyed, but they wait 30 to 40 seconds and the others can set their lap times, but of course those behind them can’t.”

“The car hits the wall, it must be directly red. I don't understand why it has to take 30, 40 seconds for the red flag to appear. It's so stupid to talk about it. It’s ridiculous.”

In fact, a review of the session suggests it made no difference for Verstappen.

He was in 10th place when Stroll crashed after a poor lap following a red-flag restart due to Sainz's accident early in the session.

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc crossed the finish line, relegating Verstappen to 11th just two seconds later – well within the normal range for a yellow flag becoming a red flag after a serious accident.

Leclerc finished sixth in qualifying, while Albon – who had been second before his crash – fell to seventh, ahead of McLaren's Oscar Piastri, Alonso and Stroll.

It remains to be seen whether Aston Martin and Williams, which have two damaged cars, can repair both in time for the race, and if not, which driver will be chosen.