Norris on Brazilian GP pole as Hamilton and Verstappen face grid penalties – roundup

Oliver Harden

07 Nov 2026 11:00 PM

A close-up shot of Max Verstappen in a press conference with an inset of Lewis Hamilton

Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton: the best of enemies

Saturday’s fast-paced F1 news wrap includes McLaren driver Lando Norris securing pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix as the FIA confirms grid penalties for Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

Let’s fly through the day’s main headlines at the speed of light…

Lando Norris on pole position for Brazilian Grand Prix

McLaren driver Lando Norris has set pole position for Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix at the Interlagos circuit.

Norris came through a rain-affected session to secure his 20th career pole and his fourth of the F1 2026 season.

A frustrated George Russell qualified second before taking a five-place grid penalty, with Mercedes teammate and new world champion Kimi Antonelli set to inherit his place on the front row.

Lewis Hamilton gets increased grid penalty at Brazilian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton will start the Brazilian Grand Prix from the back of the grid after Ferrari carried out a complete engine change on Saturday at Interlagos.

Hamilton originally incurred a 10-place grid penalty, along with Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, for taking a fifth internal combustion engine of the season.

After suffering a problem in FP3, however, Ferrari opted to give Hamilton a new engine, forcing him to start Sunday’s race at the rear of the field.

Max Verstappen to start from back of the grid at Brazilian Grand Prix

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen will also start the Brazilian Grand Prix from the back of the grid due to an engine change.

Verstappen has moved on to a fifth internal combustion engine, fifth turbocharger and fifth exhaust of the F1 2026 campaign – with the changes adding up to a total of 30 places.

A rule change over recent years means drivers who accumulate grid penalties worth more than 15 places must automatically start at the back of the grid.

Toto Wolff sends message to F1 drivers ahead of final Qatar, Abu Dhabi GP decision

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says he would have “done the same as MotoGP management has done” ahead of a final decision on whether the Qatar and Abu Dhabi grands prix will go ahead.

MotoGP is racing in Qatar this weekend, three weeks before Formula 1 – also owned by Liberty Media – is due to travel to the Lusail circuit.

Wolff said: “You want to ride or drive? Go. If you don’t want to, don’t go. It’s as simple as that. Everybody can take their personal decisions on that and I respect that.”

Brazilian Grand Prix to remain on F1 calendar until 2035

The Brazilian Grand Prix will remain on the Formula 1 calendar until at least the end of the 2035 season after signing an extension to its contract.

A five-year extension was announced on Saturday, guaranteeing that Interlagos will remain on the schedule for the next nine years.

Stefano Domenicali, the Formula 1 president and chief executive, said: “Brazil is an important part of Formula 1’s history and our future and I am delighted that this five-year extension will see us continue racing in São Paulo until 2035.”

Red Bull Lando Norris Lewis Hamilton Max Verstappen