Overview
- Qualifying at Interlagos was halted for about 90 minutes by torrential rain and standing water, stretching the session to roughly two and a half hours and forcing drivers into a cautious, stop‑start run plan.
- Lando Norris topped the official timesheets in the one‑lap Q3 shootout with a 1:27.470, but that timing sheet result will not dictate Sunday’s starting order once penalties are applied.
- George Russell was second fastest on the timesheets but will drop five places for a power‑unit change, which promotes new world champion Kimi Antonelli onto the front row.
- Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have taken full power‑unit replacements and will start from the back of the grid, while Charles Leclerc carries a 10‑place engine penalty.
- The wet conditions exposed drivers to heavy spray and aquaplaning, produced surprise top‑10s for midfield and veteran wet‑weather drivers, and leave the race prospects altered because the grid will reflect penalties and weather fortune rather than raw pace.