F1 Brazil 2024: The surprising starting grid at Interlagos with Norris on pole

This weekend in São Paulo, Formula 1 experienced a chaotic spectacle at the iconic Interlagos circuit, where extreme conditions and multiple incidents completely reshaped the starting grid for the Brazilian Grand Prix. The qualifying, originally scheduled for Saturday, was postponed until Sunday morning due to torrential rain and poor visibility that characterized the weekend, while the sprint race already made clear who the favorites were.

Sprint Race: The seasoned veteran makes a comeback on recovery day

Saturday’s Sprint Race saw Mexican driver Sergio “Checo” Pérez bounce back after a tough practice session on Friday. Starting from 13th, Pérez gained five positions to finish eighth and earn a valuable point in the F1 World Championship. McLaren drivers once again demonstrated their dominance by taking the top two spots in this format, reaffirming the “papaya power” that has defined the team this season. Max Verstappen, despite knowing he would face a grid penalty on Sunday, finished on the sprint podium, showing competitiveness even knowing he would start from a disadvantaged position in the main race.

Final grid: Norris shines while Verstappen is sidelined

After a chaotic Sunday morning qualifying session, Lando Norris secured his eighth F1 pole with a time of 1:23.405 in Q3 on intermediate tires. The British McLaren driver showed the best pace on track during the most chaotic day of the weekend, narrowly beating his compatriot George Russell of Mercedes by just 173 milliseconds. Yuki Tsunoda of the Racing Bulls team completed the top three.

The most notable surprise was the penalty handed to Max Verstappen, who was relegated to 17th after being eliminated in Q2. The penalty for additional power unit changes placed the championship leader in a difficult position for the main race. Meanwhile, Sergio Pérez also faced difficulties, being eliminated in Q2 and finishing 12th, a result that frustrated the Mexican driver, who felt there were unnecessary delays in applying safety protocols.

The final grid was as follows:

1. Lando Norris (McLaren)
2. George Russell (Mercedes)
3. Yuki Tsunoda (Racing Bulls)
4. Esteban Ocon (Alpine)
5. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
6. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
7. Alexander Albon (Williams)
8. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
9. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
10. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
11. Valtteri Bottas (Kick Sauber)
12. Sergio Pérez (Red Bull Racing)
13. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
14. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)
15. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
16. Franco Colapinto (Williams)
17. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing)
18. Nico Hülkenberg (Haas)
19. Zhou Guanyu (Kick Sauber)
20. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari)

Extreme weather conditions: The cause of the suspension

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) decided to postpone the qualifying originally scheduled for 12:00 PM Saturday due to dangerous weather conditions. Persistent rain, gusts of wind, and lightning strikes at Interlagos made it impossible to ensure driver safety. According to the FIA’s official statement, “the lack of visibility caused by the level of rain, combined with water pooling in several sections of the circuit, created unsafe conditions for competition.”

Organizers attempted to wait for an optimal weather window, rescheduling the session multiple times at fifteen-minute intervals between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM Saturday. However, the continued adverse conditions led to a definitive suspension until Sunday morning.

Five red flags in qualifying: An unprecedented chaos

Sunday’s qualifying session was extraordinarily tumultuous, with no fewer than five incidents prompting red flags during Q3. Alexander Albon, Lance Stroll, Franco Colapinto, Carlos Sainz, and Fernando Alonso all had accidents, though fortunately without serious personal injuries. The accumulation of incidents disrupted the Q3 schedule and significantly affected the times of drivers trying to improve their laps.

Alonso’s crash, in particular, was major, requiring intervention from track marshals. The two-time world champion lost control of his Aston Martin at the eleventh corner, causing a brief suspension of Q3. Despite everything, Alonso managed to qualify ninth on the final grid. These incidents highlighted how challenging it was to race in wet conditions at the legendary Interlagos circuit.

Checo Pérez’s record in Brazil: A volatile performance over the years

Throughout his Formula 1 career, Sergio Pérez has experienced highly variable results at the Brazilian Grand Prix. His history at Interlagos reflects both moments of success and adversity:

In his early seasons with Sauber (2011-2012), the Mexican faced retirements due to accidents in the opening laps. Later, with McLaren (2013), he finished sixth. His best performance at the circuit came in 2016 with Force India, when he finished fourth in a rain-affected race that played to his experience.

After joining Red Bull Racing, Pérez has had inconsistent results in Brazil. He finished fourth in 2021, playing a key role in the tactical defense of teammate Max Verstappen that season. In 2022, he finished sixth after an incident with Verstappen, and in 2023, he again finished fourth, earning important points for the team.

For the 2024 weekend, Pérez aimed to improve on previous performances and secure a podium finish, a challenging goal starting from 12th on the grid.

Practical information: Schedules and broadcast

The main race of the 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix was scheduled for Sunday, November 3, at 9:30 AM (Mexico City time). In Mexico, F1 coverage is available through Fox Sports, Fox Sports 3, Fox Sports Premium, and F1 TV Pro, with various subscription plans depending on the service.

Drivers faced an extraordinary challenge at the iconic Interlagos circuit, where unpredictable conditions and a narrow starting grid promised an intense race that would determine crucial positions in the F1 World Championship.