Post by : Meena
Hassan
In a thrilling qualifying session, Mercedes’ rookie Kimi Antonelli joined British driver Lando Norris on the front row for Saturday’s 100km sprint race at Interlagos. Norris, who triumphed in the sprint last year against Max Verstappen, achieved his first pole of the season, thereby maintaining his championship lead over Oscar Piastri, with only a point separating them and four grands prix left.
The sprint race allocates eight points to the winner and awards points to the top eight finishers. Norris expressed, “We accomplished what we aimed for, which was to be the fastest today,” while admitting that the track conditions were more challenging than in Mexico. He also cautioned that rain and strong winds are anticipated on Saturday, urging teams to make necessary preparations.
Piastri qualified in third place, displaying enthusiasm as he remarked, “We can definitely compete with what we have, and there are plenty more points up for grabs on Sunday.” George Russell lined up fourth for Mercedes at the site of his first win in 2022, while Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin secured the fifth spot after clocking the quickest time in the second qualifying phase.
Max Verstappen, a four-time world champion, landed in sixth but was visibly dissatisfied with his car's performance, labeling it “completely broken” and “undriveable.” Team principal Laurent Mekies acknowledged Verstappen’s frustrations while confirming the car’s ongoing issues.
Lewis Hamilton narrowly missed the final qualifying shootout, finishing 11th after running out of time for a final flying lap in phase two. He expressed visible frustration after being summoned to the stewards for not slowing enough for yellow flags. His teammate Charles Leclerc, despite spinning and causing double yellow flags, qualified eighth.
The top ten qualifiers for the sprint race include Lando Norris, Kimi Antonelli, Oscar Piastri, George Russell, Fernando Alonso, Max Verstappen, Lance Stroll, Charles Leclerc, Isack Hadjar, and Nico Hulkenberg.
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