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Now every point counts. It’s no longer just a sprint race in Brazil. Which is why Lando Norris taking pole at Interlagos for the 24-lap dash on Saturday is a major tonic in his world championship quest.
More rain is forecast and might yet wipe the smile off the British driver’s face, but he could take satisfaction in knowing that his only two rivals for the title start behind him, one by a bit, the other by a long way.
Oscar Piastri, one point adrift in the other McLaren, will line up third, and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen sixth.
Kimi Antonelli put his Mercedes between Norris and Piastri – part of the good news for Norris.
Verstappen has Mercedes’ George Russell and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso ahead of him, too.
The Dutchman was unhappy with his Red Bull, at one point complaining: ‘The car is completely broken. It is just undriveable.’
Lando Norris holds aloft his Pirelli Sprint Award after finishing on pole in Brazil on Friday
Norris' McLaren was fasted in front of packed stands at Interlagos on a fine Sao Paulo day
Verstappen is 36 points back and it feels as if he requires a major success in Brazil to keep his championship defence alive with a maximum of 114 points available across this weekend and the closing races in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
‘It was a little bit tougher than I would have liked,’ said Norris. ‘We did the job we needed to do, which was to be fastest. I have not been feeling as comfortable as I did in Mexico, so it is a great result.
‘We’ll wait and see what tomorrow’s going to do. It’s meant to rain a lot in the morning, it’s meant to be incredibly windy, so make sure everyone brings their rain jackets. But no point worrying about anything for now. I’m happy with today. I put things together.’
A terrible afternoon for Lewis Hamilton, adopted son of Brazil – an honorary citizen of the country, in fact. He was left shaking his head in the cockpit after going out of Q2. So did Fred Vasseur, Ferrari’s team principal on the pit wall.
‘Every time, mate,’ said Hamilton, cryptically, as his race engineer Riccardo Adami told him to box because he was only 11th fastest.
In fairness to Hamilton, his team-mate Charles Leclerc spinning was not helpful to him but he hadn’t set a time fast enough by then. Leclerc had. The Monegasque qualified eighth.
Hamilton was then investigated by the stewards for a yellow flag infringement. A relegation down the grid may await him. Isn’t life just grand at Ferrari?
