The Brazilian Grand Prix will begin with Lando Norris on pole after the McLaren driver mastered a rain-hit qualifying session at Interlagos on Saturday, November 7.
Norris set a fastest lap of 1:27.470 in a disrupted session to beat Mercedes driver George Russell by 0.204 seconds and secure the top starting position for Sunday’s race.
The race is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, at 2 p.m. local time in São Paulo, which is noon Eastern time for viewers in Toronto. The Brazilian Grand Prix is the weekend’s main event.
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Brazilian Grand Prix grid changed by penalties
The qualifying order does not tell the full story of the starting grid because several drivers received power-unit penalties before the race.
Russell qualified second but drops five places, promoting Mercedes teammate and newly crowned world champion Kimi Antonelli to the front row alongside Norris.
Charles Leclerc qualified fourth for Ferrari but will start 14th after a 10-place penalty.
Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Pérez will start at the back of the field after penalties linked to additional power-unit components.
| Starting position | Driver | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 3 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
| 4 | Nico Hülkenberg | Audi |
| 5 | Oliver Bearman | Haas |
| 6 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| 7 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 8 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 9 | Alexander Albon | Williams |
| 10 | Rafael Câmara | Haas |
The provisional starting grid places Carlos Sainz 11th, Arvid Lindblad 12th, Charles Leclerc 14th, Lewis Hamilton 20th, Max Verstappen 21st and Sergio Pérez 22nd.
Rain could decide the race at Interlagos
Qualifying was delayed by heavy rain and interrupted by red flags, with drivers initially forced onto full-wet tyres before conditions improved enough for faster laps.
The official race forecast calls for cool and unsettled conditions, with a 40 per cent chance of heavy rain and thunderstorms in São Paulo on Sunday.
Temperatures are expected to range from 13 C to 19 C, while wind gusts could reach 40 km/h around the circuit.
Those conditions could create opportunities for drivers starting outside the usual front-running positions, particularly Verstappen and Hamilton, who have both been sent to the rear despite strong wet-weather reputations.
Tyre strategy adds another layer of uncertainty
Pirelli has selected the C3 hard, C4 medium and C5 soft compounds for this year’s São Paulo event, with intermediate and full-wet tyres available if rain returns, according to the official tyre preview.
If the track remains dry, every driver must use at least two different slick compounds during the race.
Pirelli’s pre-race analysis identified a two-stop strategy as the most effective approach at Interlagos last season, although the resurfaced sections of the circuit could change how quickly the tyres degrade this year.
The flowing circuit offers overtaking opportunities into Turn 1 and elsewhere, but changing grip levels and a wet track could make timing pit stops more important than outright qualifying pace.
What to watch for on Sunday
- Norris will try to convert pole into another victory at a circuit where he won last year.
- Antonelli will start from the front row in his first São Paulo race as world champion.
- Russell must recover from seventh after losing five grid places.
- Leclerc faces a long recovery drive from 14th.
- Hamilton, Verstappen and Pérez will attempt to move through the field from the back.
- Rain could force teams to choose between slicks, intermediates and full wets during the race.
With the grid compressed by penalties and the forecast still unsettled, the Brazilian Grand Prix is set up as a race in which strategy and timing may matter as much as the pace shown in qualifying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who starts on pole for the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix?
Lando Norris starts on pole after recording the fastest time in rain-affected qualifying at Interlagos.
When is the 2026 Brazilian Grand Prix?
The race takes place on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 2 p.m. local time in São Paulo, or noon Eastern time.
Why is George Russell starting seventh?
Russell qualified second but received a five-place grid penalty for using an additional power-unit component.
Where will Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen start?
Hamilton and Verstappen are scheduled to start at the back of the grid after power-unit penalties.
Could it rain during the Brazilian Grand Prix?
Yes. The race forecast includes a 40 per cent chance of heavy rain and thunderstorms, creating the possibility of changing tyre and pit-stop strategies.
Fact-Checked: Key qualifying results, penalties, starting positions, schedule details and tyre information were checked against FIA and Formula 1 primary information.
Disclaimer: Starting positions and race conditions may change if further steward decisions or weather-related timetable updates are issued before the race.