Norris dominates Interlagos: Verstappen suffers a setback on the grid at the 2024 Brazil GP

The penultimate stage of the 2024 Formula 1 season arrives with drama and surprises. The Interlagos circuit in São Paulo once again becomes the scene of intense emotions, where British driver Lando Norris (McLaren) takes pole position with a masterful performance, while Dutchman Verstappen, the world championship leader, dramatically drops to seventeenth on the starting grid after receiving a five-place penalty. The qualifying session, rescheduled for Sunday morning after being suspended on Saturday due to extreme weather conditions, was marked by chaos, interruptions, and high-tension moments on the wet track.

How did the starting grid look for the 2024 Brazilian GP?

The qualifying day resulted in a surprising grid lineup. Lando Norris leads from pole position, alongside George Russell of Mercedes in the front row. Yuki Tsunoda (RB) starts third, followed by Esteban Ocon (Alpine) in fourth. Liam Lawson (RB) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) occupy the third row.

Alexander Albon of Williams should start seventh, though his participation depends on repairs for damage sustained during the qualifying session. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) completes the fourth row. The fifth and sixth rows feature Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin Aramco) in ninth, Lance Stroll (Aston Martin Aramco) in tenth, Valtteri Bottas (Kick Sauber) in eleventh, and Sergio Pérez (Red Bull Racing) in twelfth.

The following positions include Pierre Gasly (Alpine), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes), Oliver Bearman (Haas), Franco Colapinto (Williams) in eighteenth, and Max Verstappen in seventeenth, penalized for changes to his power unit. Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) will start from the pit lane after making additional adjustments to his car.

The numbers behind the qualifying drama: red flags and Verstappen relegated

The qualifying session was anything but routine. Five red flag moments interrupted the session, caused by accidents involving Alexander Albon, Lance Stroll, Franco Colapinto, Carlos Sainz, and Fernando Alonso. Twenty-four-year-old Lando Norris secured his eighth F1 pole, dominating the crucial Q3 with intermediate tires. His time of 1 minute, 23 seconds, and 405 milliseconds over the 4.308 km of Interlagos gave him a 173-millisecond advantage over Russell, who will start alongside him in the front row.

Yuki Tsunoda completed the qualifying podium, finishing seven-tenths behind Russell.

The drama hit Max Verstappen, who was eliminated in Q2 with the twelfth-fastest time, affected by the exact moment a red flag was waved — caused by Canadian Lance Stroll. In addition to his early exit, a five-place grid penalty drops him from a more favorable position to seventeenth, a significant fall that complicates his race strategy.

Sergio Pérez was also eliminated in Q2, starting twelfth. The Mexican driver expressed clear discomfort with the result, citing excessive delays in red flag waving and conditions that prevented him from fully expressing his car’s potential.

Why was the qualifying session at Interlagos suspended?

On Saturday, qualifying was suspended due to catastrophic weather conditions. Torrential rain, strong wind gusts, and thunder battered the São Paulo circuit, making conditions unsafe for racing. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) explained in an official statement that the decision was made due to “lack of visibility caused by the level of rain” and the presence of “a lot of standing water in some parts of the circuit,” creating a potential hazard.

Originally scheduled for 12:00 PM on Saturday, November 2 (North American Central Time), shortly after the Sprint race where Sergio Pérez scored a point by finishing eighth, the session was delayed by the FIA a first time by one hour.

From 1:00 PM onward, delays occurred every 15 minutes: 1:15 PM, 1:30 PM, 1:45 PM, 2:00 PM — but the session never started. Finally, at 1:47 PM, the FIA confirmed that qualifying would be postponed until Sunday morning, leading to a complete reorganization of the weekend schedule.

The Brazilian Grand Prix race and final timings

The schedule for Sunday, November 3, was reorganized as follows: qualifying took place between 4:30 and 5:30 AM (North American Central Time), allowing the session to be held under more manageable but still challenging conditions. The main race of the 2024 Brazilian GP was scheduled between 9:30 and 11:30 AM on the same Sunday.

Sergio Pérez’s challenge at Interlagos: a mixed history in Brazil

Sergio “Checo” Pérez’s historical performance at Interlagos presents a complex picture of limited achievements and recurring frustrations. Located in the Cidade Dutra district of São Paulo, this legendary track has witnessed varied moments in the Mexican driver’s F1 career since his debut.

In 2011, racing for Sauber, Pérez retired after a collision early in the race. The following year, 2012, with the same team, he retired again on the first lap due to an incident. His stint at McLaren in 2013 was more positive, finishing sixth.

During his time at Force India (2014-2018), results varied. In 2014, he did not participate due to a penalty carried over, but in 2015, he finished twelfth. His best result with that team was fourth in a rain-affected race in 2016. In 2017, he finished ninth, and in 2018, tenth.

With Racing Point in 2019, Pérez finished ninth. His move to Red Bull Racing marked a turning point. In 2021, he achieved fourth place in a crucial strategic race for Verstappen, while in 2022, he finished sixth after an incident with his teammate. In 2023, he scored important points for the team, finishing fourth, solidifying his role within Red Bull.

For 2024, Pérez aimed to significantly improve his previous performances, aspiring to reach the podium and close the season with strong results that would reinforce his competitive position within the team.