Norris reigned in Brazil classification chaos and problems for Verstappen

This is real chaos. The qualifying session for the Brazilian GP was postponed this Sunday morning due to the heavy rain that fell on Saturday. And at 7:30 am local time, the F1 drivers had a Formula 1 breakfast in its purest form, with a classification against the clock on a wet track, even without puddles, but very delicate, which is the best scenario for an exciting, crazy classification, with up to 5 red flags, with Lando Norris doing well to take pole position against Russell (2nd), Tsunoda (3rd), Ocon (4th), Lawson (5th) and Leclerc (6th).

And so, The World Championship heats up: Verstappen has to start 16th in today’s race (4:30 pm, if it’s a race, because it’s raining). He was in big trouble because of a red flag that hurt him in Q2.

In it, Fernando Alonso once again worked magic in one of the worst cars on the grid, miraculously making it into Q3which makes up for the shortcomings of his car with his hands, having to take more risks in search of an unthinkable result in the dry. He drives on a knife edge with a car with little grip and, in the middle of a miracle, he goes to the wall. He will start the race today (4:30 pm) in 9th place with the 9th or 10th worst car out of 10. All told.

The great winner was Lando Norris, who achieved a very important pole that could bring him very close to a title that seemed almost lost for him against Verstappen. The Briton has made too many mistakes this season and seems to have had a very difficult World Cup. He started the Grand Prix on 47 points and winning the sprint race left him 44 points behind Max ahead of today’s race, with 3 more Grands Prix to play against an unfazed Verstappen. And in the wet, in a ‘qualy’ where it’s so easy to add to his long list of mistakes, English is huge.

Lando barely made it into Q2, in 15th place, but from there, with the track ready for the intermediates, the Briton flew through Q3 with sensational laps.

Verstappen, against the ropes: 16th on the grid

So Lando Norris took a big chance to deal a big blow to Max Verstappen in the World Championship in today’s race, as long as it can compete, because the possibility of rain is high.

His great rival for the title, the World Championship leader and current three-time F1 champion, Max Verstappen was damaged by a red flag in Q2 which left him behind. The Dutchman was struck by incomprehensible regulations. Max was in the middle of the circuit, in the middle of the lap launched to get into Q3, when Lance Stroll crashed in the first corners.

Max could never find the green car, but when the red flag came out, wherever he was, he had to lift his foot and abort his turn. He was left with honey on his lips, in 12th place.

That, added to the 5-place penalty he had for changing the internal combustion engine, made him start 17th in a wet race where absolutely anything could happen. However, Alex Albon, injured in Q3, will not be able to participate in the race due to damage to his car and gives place to Max, who will start 15th.

Max is a magician in the rain and you should not be left out, especially in a wet race where accidents and safety cars can benefit him. But he had to take a chance on his biggest opponent at the pole.

If Norris wins and Max does not score, he will reduce his deficit to Max to 19 points with 3 Grand Prix remaining. Maybe there will be a World Cup. But a lot depends on what happens today.

Alonso, 9th after taking a big risk

Fernando Alonso is 9th (he may have to start from the pit lane if the car needs repairs or 8th due to the loss of Albon) after a very good classification that ended harshly. With one of the worst cars on the grid, he is betting on taking advantage of any situation that can benefit him.

He held on in the rain as the only option for a good result after finishing 18th in the sprint race with a lightly loaded car that suffered badly in all corners.

He had to apply changes to his car to improve his pace and give everything in conditions where the differences between the cars were reduced. In the rain, in a car with very little load, he had to risk more than his rivals to go for the times. And he nailed it from the start.

In his first Q1 time he placed 2nd and that same record earned him a place in Q2. And in Q2 he was ahead after the resumption of the session due to another red flag, only to be overtaken by Norris by a mere 0.191 better McLaren, with Alonso less than two tenths behind.

Alonso knew he had nothing to lose than to gain and continued to attack. He had to go on a knife’s edge, work magic on the cliff, knowing that he could end up on the wall or with a spectacular result. And in his attempt at intermediate in Q3, whose track was very delicate, he went to the wall. He will start 8th (due to Albon’s defeat), better than Aston Martin would have expected in any case.

Sainz and Colapinto accident

In qualifying there were many accidents and scares. One of them is Colapintoin Q1, on his debut in an F1 in the rain. Study for the Argentine, which will start on the 17th. Carlos Sainz also suffered. The Madrid driver had to have the car to aim for the top spot, but he hit the wall in Q2. So, Carlos Sainz is 14th and will finally start from the pit lane.

Oscar Piastri was the first to set a great record in the intermediates and because of this everyone bet on this tire on a very complicated track. Norris almost collided in Turn 2 and Russell spun. And immediately after, Carlos, in turn 2, lost his car, skidded and went into the wall.

In qualifying, Stroll also crashed at the end of Q2 and Albon, in Q3.