Brazilian GP: Oscar Piastri Poles For McLaren's One-two Front Row Start

 

Oscar Piastri, for the first time in his career, poled in a sprint qualifying session by fractions of a second ahead of his teammate, Lando Norris for McLaren's one-two front row start to the Brazilian Grand Prix. 

While Piastri had posted the fastest time in 1:08.899s, Max Verstappen sped up the track for his SQ3 session but could not beat the time already set by McLaren. The Red Bull driver finish in P4 behind Charles Leclerc. 

Leclerc had leapt in between the McLaren duo on his second sector lap for a provisional P2 position. Piatric later shattered his time set and Norris' coming out for the second sector and pipped his teammate by 0.029s to pole. He will start a race in pole for the first time in his career at Interlagos. 

For Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton did not get the qualifying he would have wanted for failing to make SQ3 after finishing the earlier session in 11th place. His pair, George Russell got past of him to SQ3 and will start in P6 behind Carlos Sainz. 

As the F1 Championship title race heats up, Verstappen looks to extend his lead (47 pts) over Norris. He has works to do in the final as the McLaren duo have the front lockdown. His teammate, Sergio Perez who could have done some battling for him to ease the challenge will start in P13.