Oscar Piastri edges out his McLaren teammate Lando Norris by a mere 0.029 seconds to clinch Sprint Qualifying pole at the 2024 F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The thrilling performance took place during a competitive Sprint Qualifying session at the iconic Interlagos circuit, where drivers battled not only against each other but also against the clock and challenging track conditions.
The Sprint Qualifying format, introduced to add excitement to race weekends, consists of three segments: SQ1, SQ2, and SQ3. Each segment eliminates the slowest drivers until only the top ten remain to compete for pole position.
In SQ1, Lando Norris set a blistering pace with a lap time of 1:09.477, showcasing McLaren’s strong form as he led the session comfortably. His performance was impressive, as he finished nearly eight-tenths of a second ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri, who clocked in at 1:10.265.
The early dominance established Norris as a serious contender for pole position throughout the qualifying rounds. Behind them, Alex Albon from Williams secured third place with a time of 1:10.366, while Charles Leclerc and Sergio Perez followed closely in fourth and fifth positions, respectively.
However, the session was marked by disappointment for several notable drivers who failed to advance beyond SQ1. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll faced a major setback, finishing 16th and 19th respectively.
They were joined in elimination by Alpine’s Esteban Ocon and Visa Cash App RB’s Yuki Tsunoda who were also ejected early on, indicating a challenging day for the respective teams.
As the session progressed into SQ2, Lando Norris continued to assert his dominance with another strong lap time of 1:09.063. Oscar Piastri improved his performance significantly as well, clocking in at 1:09.239 to secure his place in the final segment alongside his teammate.
The top ten was rounded out by drivers including George Russell from Mercedes and Pierre Gasly from Alpine, both of whom demonstrated competitive pace but were unable to challenge the McLaren duo for the top spots.
The final segment, SQ3, proved to be the most exhilarating part of the qualifying session as Norris initially looked poised to maintain his lead after setting a solid opening lap. However, Oscar Piastri’s late charge changed the dynamics dramatically as he clocked an impressive lap time of 1:08.899 just moments before the session concluded.
This last-minute effort not only secured him the Sprint Qualifying pole but also highlighted his growing prowess as a driver capable of handling pressure effectively.
Charles Leclerc managed to secure third place with a time of 1:09.153 in his Ferrari, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen could only manage fourth with a time of 1:09.219. Carlos Sainz completed the top five for Ferrari with a commendable performance that kept him within striking distance of his rivals.
The remaining positions in the top ten featured Mercedes’ George Russell in sixth place followed by Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in seventh and RB’s Liam Lawson in eighth. Alex Albon’s strong showing for Williams placed him ninth while Oliver Bearman rounded out the top ten despite not setting a time in SQ3 due to a lap being deleted for exceeding track limits.
Notably absent from Q3 were some high-profile names such as Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez.
Hamilton’s struggles continued as he finished 11th overall after failing to find pace when it mattered most during SQ2. Meanwhile, Perez’s campaign was cut short after he ran out of time to set a final flying lap, leaving him in 13th position.
The results of the 2024 F1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying session set the stage for an exciting sprint race on Saturday at Interlagos. With Piastri starting from pole position alongside Norris, fans can anticipate an intense battle between these two talented drivers who have shown remarkable synergy throughout the season.
The competition is expected to be fierce not only among McLaren teammates but also with formidable challengers like Leclerc and Verstappen eager to capitalize on any opportunity during the sprint.
As teams prepare for Saturday’s action, all eyes will be on how Oscar Piastri manages his lead and whether Norris can mount a challenge right from the start.
