Norris takes Sao Paulo Grand Prix pole in wet qualifying

Lando Norris claimed pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after a difficult qualifying session in wet and treacherous conditions. The result means Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen will start the race at the back of the grid.

The session was run in heavy rain, which made the track hard to handle. Norris produced his best lap on his final run to take top spot. Drivers struggled for grip throughout the session.

George Russell was fast enough to have taken pole, but he was then hit with a grid penalty. That penalty drops him from the front row, leaving the top spot with Norris.

The result extends a run of success for Norris at the Sao Paulo circuit. He will start from pole for the third year in a row. It is another strong weekend for the McLaren driver in a season where he has regularly been near the front.

Norris and Verstappen are both in contention in the title race. Starting at the back is a serious setback for Hamilton and Verstappen, because overtaking is hard at most circuits. Rain could still change the picture on Sunday, and the weather forecast for the race is not yet known.

Qualifying in these conditions also tends to produce surprises, and the grid order may shift once the race begins.