Max Verstappen will begin the São Paulo Grand Prix from 21st place after Red Bull changed his engine, RacingNews365 reported. The decision came during a rain-affected qualifying session, prompting Verstappen to withdraw from Q2.
Lando Norris claimed pole position for the race at Autódromo José Carlos Pace, with Kimi Antonelli alongside him on the front row. George Russell, who qualified second, received a five-place grid penalty for an internal combustion engine swap, according to RacingNews365. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were also positioned further back on the grid.
Verstappen’s back-of-the-grid start set the stage for a dramatic race at the Interlagos circuit. Grand Prix Radio noted the venue is known for its elevation changes, fast corners, and the famous Senna S-curves.
The São Paulo Grand Prix began at 18:00 local time (21:00 UTC) on Sunday, November 8, as confirmed by Grand Prix Radio.
Verstappen mounted a charge from the back of the field, securing second place by the end of the race, Sporza reported.
The Red Bull team instructed Isack Hadjar to yield second place to Verstappen to support his charge, according to Sporza. Hadjar had briefly held the position before receiving the team order.
Lando Norris won the race, his third victory of the season, after pressuring world champion Kimi Antonelli, Sporza reported. The McLaren driver secured the lead and held off Verstappen to take the checkered flag.
“It was a tough race, very, very tough,” Norris said following his win, as reported by Sporza. “I have to thank the team, they work incredibly hard. It’s frustrating when you can’t deliver good results, like in recent weeks. But this weekend I was able to reward them for their hard work.”
The final race of the season remains the next confirmed checkpoint. Teams and drivers will shift their focus to the season-ending event, where further championship positions could be finalized.
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