Sao Paulo GP: Can Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton come from the back again as Lando Norris hopes for rain to fight Kimi Antonelli | F1 News

A mixed grid and rain in the forecast have created the possibility of an exciting Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday.

For the third consecutive year, Lando Norris will start on pole position in Brazil with new F1 World Champion Kimi Antonelli alongside him on the front row.

However, unusually, there will be plenty of attention further down the field as power unit changes for Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton mean they start from the back, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc starts 14th for a 10-grid penalty.

And George Russell of Mercedes, who remained frustrated to not qualify first after a strategic error by the team, starts seventh after a five-place penalty for a new internal combustion engine, so some of F1’s biggest names will start the Sao Paulo Grand Prix – kicks off at 5pm on Sunday with kick-off from 3.30pm, live on Sky Sports F1 – out of position.

“It’s almost a reverse grid race, isn’t it?” said Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff Sky Sports F1.

“Yes, exciting. I think we want to close the points for the constructors’ championship. But it’s all open doors, so much the better. Let’s race.”

How far up the field can Verstappen and Hamilton go?

Verstappen is no stranger to moving into his group at Interlagos after his remarkable victory from the 17th in 2024 in the rain.

The Red Bull driver, who has won three times in Brazil, gained 11 places in the first 11 laps before making the right strategic call to take a decisive victory.

Last year, Verstappen started from the pit lane and impressively worked his way to the podium in dry conditions, but he reckons it will be more difficult to get to the front this time.

“It’s going to be a bit harder to overtake. Overtaking mode doesn’t really do much here. Everyone’s draining their battery from the last corner to Turn 1. Everyone’s got their arms out, so the effect is less than normal,” he said. Sky Sports F1.

“It will make overtaking a bit more difficult once you get to the cars that are similar in lap time. The first cars are not a problem. The others will be a bit more difficult.”

Hamilton memorably went from 20th to fifth in the 2021 Sprint in Brazil after he was disqualified from Qualifying, then won the Grand Prix after starting 10th.

However, Hamilton will not have the same advantage in the car from five years ago with Ferrari struggling this weekend compared to their recent form.

But the high chance of rain means Hamilton and Verstappen will have the chance to show off their outstanding skills and could yet find themselves towards the bottom of the field with a standout performance.

“It will be difficult conditions, but I like racing in the rain,” said Hamilton.

“I was basically using qualifying as a test to make sure the engine was working and to make sure the car felt good. I feel good about tomorrow.”

Leclerc has fewer cars to overcome from 14th and feels he learned a lot from wet qualifying by experimenting with set-up tweaks that will benefit him in the race.

“It will be very complicated. My biggest strength in the junior categories has been wet driving. Since my nine years with Ferrari, we have never found a way to do that,” he said. Sky Sports F1.

“I still believe that if we can find the right window for this car, we can fight for much better than the top six.”

Norris hopes for ‘dark and gloomy days’ to fight Antonelli

Perhaps fittingly enough, last year’s F1 champion Norris will start on pole from new world champion Antonelli in the first race since the latter secured this year’s title a week ago in Mexico.

McLaren introduced a new front wing, rear wing, beam wing and floor mat to their car this weekend and it seems to have had an immediate impact on performance.

Norris and Antonelli traded lap times during Friday’s dry practice sessions, but the McLaren driver feels he needs rain to beat Antonelli on Sunday.

“I expect a battle no matter what. If it’s dry, I’m probably expecting a bigger battle because I don’t think we have the speed compared to them,” he said. Sky Sports F1.

“That’s why I feel like we had a really good day today. We made the most of the conditions where it’s not so much about who has the best car, it’s more about who can push things to the limit and make the most of the opportunity.

“I hope when I wake up it will be a dark and gloomy day, because then we will have a better chance.”

Norris pointed to Antonelli’s impressive pace in the dry on Friday as the reason he is hoping for rain, while the Mercedes driver says he is open to any conditions.

“We hope to get off the line well and see if it’s going to be wet or dry,” said Antonelli.

“In the dry, I felt really good in a single lap and in the long run, especially in FP2. So let’s see. I’m looking forward to it.

Mercedes have a strong chance of winning the constructors’ championship with Antonelli starting second and Russell seventh, while the two Ferraris are outside the top 13.

If Mercedes clear Ferrari by three points or more, they will seal their ninth title since 2014, but the race result itself appears to be more important to the drivers and Russell is hoping for more rain after his impressive qualifying.

“I felt very confident in the rain. I think my pace, along with Lando’s, was far from the best out there,” he said.

“In the rain here, it’s always a challenge. I hope it’s wet. I feel like I have a better chance if it’s wet.”

Sky Sports F1 Sao Paulo GP Live

Sunday, November 8
15:30: Sunday’s Grand Prix: Sao Paulo GP Preparation
17:00: Grand Prix of SAO PAULO
19:00: Checkered flag: Sao Paulo GP reaction
20:00: Ted’s Notebook

Formula 1 is in Brazil for the final leg of the triple header with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix this weekend, live on Sky Sports F1. Stream Sky Sports with NOW