Rain threat persists for São Paulo Grand Prix race

Rain is expected throughout Sunday at Interlagos, with the heaviest downpours forecast between 9am and noon before becoming lighter for the race. Temperatures are also set to fall sharply, from 29 to 30 degrees Celsius during qualifying to below 15 degrees on race day.

Lando Norris claimed pole position, ahead of Kimi Antonelli and Liam Lawson in third. Nico Hulkenberg starts fourth. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton both received grid penalties after taking new engine components outside their allocated pools, starting 21st and 20th respectively. George Russell, who set the second-fastest time, drops to seventh after an internal combustion engine change.

The cold, wet conditions could make tyre warm-up particularly difficult, potentially creating a chaotic race and opening the door for comeback drives from Verstappen and Hamilton.