Title Leader Norris Takes Sao Paulo Sprint Pole

Lando Norris took rod position for nan sprint title astatine nan Sao Paulo Grand Prix pinch McLaren team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri successful third.

Norris hit Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli by 0.097 seconds, while Piastri was 0.185secs adrift of nan Briton successful third.

Norris took nan lead of nan title from Piastri by 1 constituent pinch triumph successful Mexico City 2 weeks ago.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen, nan only different realistic title contender astatine 36 points down Norris, could negociate only sixth, beaten by Mercedes' George Russell and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso.

Lewis Hamilton was knocked retired successful nan 2nd convention and qualified 11th successful his Ferrari, his last thigh successful nan 2nd convention ruined erstwhile team-mate Charles Leclerc spun successful beforehand of him retired of Turn 10.

Hamilton besides faces an investigation for failing to slow sufficiently for nan yellowish flags waved erstwhile Leclerc mislaid control.

Norris topped each 3 sessions successful sprint qualifying and had a comfortable advantage complete Piastri throughout.

He said: "It was a small spot tougher than I would person liked. But we did nan occupation we needed to do, which was to beryllium fastest today.

"Qualifying is ever 1 of nan champion things here. It's difficulty, it's bumpy, it's tricky, ever a joy, ever puts a grin connected your face.

"But a agelong weekend, different qualifying and different mates of races to spell but a bully start."

Rain is forecast for Saturday greeting successful Sao Paulo, erstwhile nan sprint title is owed to commencement astatine 14:00 GMT. Qualifying for nan expansive prix is astatine 18:00.

Norris' consequence is nan champion imaginable commencement to nan play and gives him nan opportunity to build his title lead - 8 points are awarded to nan victor of nan sprint, 7 for 2nd and truthful connected down to eighth place.

Antonelli impressed successful second, his champion clip group connected his first lap, while nan astonishment package of qualifying was Alonso, who group nan fastest clip successful nan 2nd convention and was conscionable 0.253secs disconnected rod successful his midfield car successful nan last shootout.

His team-mate Lance Stroll was seventh fastest, up of Leclerc, Racing Bulls' Iscak Hadjar and Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg.