Brazilian GP: Qualifying top 3 reaction as George Russell reveals costly ‘misjudgement’

Lando Norris took pole position for the third year running at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, with this latest success coming in the most dramatic of circumstances.

Norris, George Russell and Kimi Antonelli react to setting the three fastest times in F1 qualifying in Brazil.

George Russell left frustrated after Brazilian GP qualifying

When qualifying began properly, following an 83-minute rain delay, Norris quickly established himself as one of the major players for pole.

An error in Q2 left him fortunate to make the top 10, but the outgoing champion was faultless in Q3, setting his time at the perfect moment before the rain began to fall with greater intensity once again.

“Well, it’s been a long day,” he said. “It’s been a great qualifying.

“Obviously, to be on pole again here two years in a row; different conditions to last year, but I’m very happy. It’s not easy conditions out there, especially when you know it’s going to rain a lot more.

“It was about getting two laps in at the beginning, not making any mistakes, and that’s exactly what we did. So, it’s been a very good day.”

He added: “This was my first time driving the car in the wet, so I think I figured it out pretty quick. It was very windy as well the last couple laps, so it’s certainly a good day for learning for me and good to take into tomorrow.

“I mean, these guys are also very quick, so just happy. I mean, today is our getting on pole. Doesn’t really matter how you do it. So, very pleased with that.”

For Russell, it was another frustrating day in the office. Despite carrying a five-place penalty for an engine change, Russell believed he had the pace to top the session and limit the damage.

But a call from the pit wall to back off from Williams driver Alex Albon and go for another lap proved costly, as the rain got heavier at precisely the wrong moment.

“Obviously, congrats to Lando, but yeah, that was definitely the pole lap [I was on],” said Russell.

“A misjudgement on our side. Need to understand what happened because, obviously, the rain was coming, and we should have just finished the lap.”

Asked what is possible on Sunday, Russell commented: “It depends on the weather. I mean, I felt good out there.

“It’s the first time in a while I felt confident in the car. I felt more confident in the wet than I do in the dry, so I don’t really understand why that was.

“I felt more like myself in the fight for pole every single lap, but yeah, unfortunately, when it mattered, we didn’t execute.”

More on the Brazilian GP

Brazilian GP: Lando Norris on pole in wet-weather thriller

F1 Brazil grid 2026: The full starting order at Interlagos with penalties

With the pressure of the championship fight off, Antonelli has impressed this weekend.

He will climb onto the front row when Mercedes teammate Russell is forced back, but qualifying had been a trip into the unknown for the Italian.

“It was very tricky,” he said.

“To be fair, I didn’t really know what to expect. Obviously, never driven here in the wet, so didn’t know what was coming.

“I struggled a little bit in the inters, to be fair, and made a big mistake. I almost went off in turn five, but still, it was enough for P3. So happy with that, and now we’ll focus on tomorrow.”

Asked about his chances of a 10th victory of the season, Antonelli added: “First of all, let’s see the weather, how it’s going to be.

“But overall, we’ll try to be ready for anything. If it’s going to be wet, obviously a lot more knowledge ahead of tomorrow.

“But let’s see, because the weather is being very unpredictable. But as I said, we’ll try to be ready for anything.”

Read next: FIA confirms double Brazilian Grand Prix punishment after investigation