Norris takes pole in rain-hit São Paulo qualifying, Alonso starts eighth

Norris takes pole in a stop-start session

Lando Norris (McLaren) took pole position for the São Paulo Grand Prix, the 20th round of the 2026 World Championship, after qualifying on Saturday, 7 November. His lap of 1:27.470 placed him ahead of his compatriot George Russell (Mercedes), who finished 0.204 seconds back. Russell will not start from second, however, because a grid penalty drops him to seventh, according to La Vanguardia. Heavy rain left poor visibility and dangerous asphalt at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, and the first part of qualifying was halted with 15:37 still showing on the clock.

Delays, red flags and early eliminations

El Mundo puts the wait before the session resumed at 85 minutes, and drivers complained of zero visibility and aquaplaning before the FIA gave the green light. El Confidencial reports that the safety car went onto the track several times to check conditions, while workers cleared flooded corners. Safety car driver Bernd Mayländer reported that conditions kept deteriorating. When Q1 restarted, the first accident involved Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi), and Franco Colapinto, Pierre Gasly, Lance Stroll, Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Pérez were also eliminated in that session. In Q2, Haas rookie Rafael Câmara crashed near the end of the session, which brought out a red flag.

Alonso reaches Q3 for the first time in 2026

Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin), aged 45, made it into Q3 for the first time this season, after 20 races without a top-10 grid slot, according to El Mundo. In the final shootout, drivers opted for intermediate tyres as another downpour threatened, and Alonso set a time of 1:30.311 that Europa Press says placed him ninth. A grid penalty for Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) moves Alonso up to eighth, although El Mundo credits the gain to a penalty for Russell instead. Carlos Sainz (Williams) was eliminated in Q2 and will start 15th.

Penalties and power-unit changes reshape the order

Several frontrunners began the weekend with penalties tied to power-unit component changes. El Mundo reports that Max Verstappen (Red Bull) and the Ferrari drivers were affected, and that Verstappen chose not to run in Q2 as a result. La Vanguardia adds that Verstappen did not take part at all in Q2, while Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) was eliminated in 11th place. El Mundo describes Andrea Kimi Antonelli as the favourite to win after the penalties hit his Mercedes teammate and the Ferraris. Norris, who had set the fastest time in the dry-rain mix, now leads the grid from pole.

What comes next

The race is scheduled for Sunday, 8 November, with Norris from pole, Russell seventh and Alonso eighth. Rain was still forecast to be a factor, as the safety car driver and the session reports all noted. Whether the damp conditions persist will shape how far the grid penalties cost each driver on Sunday.