Brazilian F1 GP: Max Verstappen takes pole position ahead of Charles Leclerc in São Paulo as heavy rain halts qualifying

November is a lovely month for the Brazilian people, as it offers a unique perspective and a beautiful experience to observe the country’s cultural richness. As soothing as it sounds, it can be quite hectic for the F1 drivers to adjust to the track amidst the cloudy weather and strong winds they face at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The cloudy weather can add an air of uncertainty to the races, effecting the outcome. However, despite the ominous weather, Max Verstappen’s willingness to excel even under adverse conditions secured him a pole position in the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Max Verstappen secures pole position for Brazilian F1 GP

Following a fifteen-minute delay to the eagerly awaited qualifying race at the Brazilian Grand Prix, which allowed for the diligent removal of any potential debris hazards on the track, Friday’s race finally got underway. Initially, the weather was relatively dry and muggy, creating an atmosphere of anticipation and excitement. However, the mood shifted as heavy clouds steadily rolled in, signaling the looming threat of sudden rain and keeping both drivers and fans on edge, uncertain of when it might arrive.

With the threat of rain just seven minutes away from Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, the qualifying session took an exhilarating turn with a one-lap shootout. Among the remaining ten drivers, Max Verstappen boldly led the charge, even though his lap time didn’t match his Q2 best. Despite the immense pressure and tricky conditions, the Dutch sensation once again secured pole position, narrowly beating out Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. There was already a buzz of anticipation surrounding Verstappen’s potential victory in the upcoming Brazilian GP.

On the other side, Leclerc failed to make it three poles in a row but will start alongside Verstappen in Sunday’s race.

Surprisingly, McLaren struggled to maintain the pace they had established in the previous races, with Lando Norris starting seventh and teammate Oscar Piastri starting tenth. This season, Aston Martin drivers Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso made an incredible comeback, finishing third and fourth, respectively.

Grandstand roof blown off in dramatic Brazilian F1 GP qualifying

Extremely powerful winds and heavy rainfall caused the Grandstand roof at the final corner of the circuit to be blown off and debris scattered in all directions, causing panic among the audience seated below. Midway through the Q3, the sky changed along with heavy showers of rainfall, which caused drivers to head back to their respective pits after the first runs.

Fortunately, there were no reports of serious injuries, only minor ones due to the rush of evacuation. Nevertheless, the event organizers will be strictly held responsible for such outcomes in a prestigious Formula One event.

Do you think that the drivers will face the same fate as the qualifying session in Sunday’s race too? Let us know in the comment section below.