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Sao Paulo GP: Oscar Piastri snatches Sprint Qualifying pole from Lando Norris with Max Verstappen in fourth

Oscar Piastri led a McLaren one-two from Lando Norris with a stunning lap at the end of Sprint Qualifying; Max Verstappen was fourth behind Charles Leclerc; watch the Sprint on Saturday at 2pm, with Qualifying for the main race at 6pm, live on Sky Sports F1

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Sprint Qualifying highlights of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix from the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace

Oscar Piastri snatched pole position for the Sprint at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix from Lando Norris in a McLaren one-two, with Max Verstappen in fourth.

Norris was dominant throughout Sprint Qualifying but Piastri pipped him by 0.029s at the very end to take his second Sprint pole.

Charles Leclerc got in between the McLarens and championship leader Verstappen, who had to settle for fourth and was 0.320s off pole-sitter Piastri.

Verstappen is 47 points ahead of Norris with four rounds to go but there are eight points on offer in Saturday's Sprint, live on Sky Sports F1 at 2pm.

Carlos Sainz was fifth, with Mercedes' George Russell in sixth ahead of Alpine's Pierre Gasly and RB's Liam Lawson.

Lewis Hamilton and Sergio Perez were surprisingly knocked out in SQ2, as British teenager Oliver Bearman made the last part of Sprint Qualifying for Haas after replacing the unwell Kevin Magnussen for at least the first half of the weekend.

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Oscar Piastri snatches Sprint pole from Lando Norris going 0.029s in front of his McLaren team-mate as Max Verstappen is fourth at the Sao Paulo GP

Sao Paulo GP Sprint Qualifying: Top 10

1) Oscar Piastri, McLaren

2) Lando Norris, McLaren

3) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

4) Max Verstappen, Red Bull

5) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari

6) George Russell, Mercedes

7) Pierre Gasly, Alpine

8) Liam Lawson, RB

9) Alex Albon, Williams

10) Oliver Bearman, Haas

How Piastri denied Norris pole for Sao Paulo Sprint

Norris was quickest in the only practice session on Friday, and on the mediums in SQ1 and SQ2 as McLaren's new scooped rear wing clearly gave the drivers confidence in the twisty middle sector.

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The drivers generally complete just one run in SQ2 and the McLarens went early, likely due to the threat of rain or yellow and red flags.

Norris was nearly four-tenths quicker than Piastri after their runs but the Australian went again and took pole away from his team-mate by 0.029s.

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After qualifying for the Sprint on pole, Piastri says he is unsure whether team orders will be applied by McLaren as Norris looks to overhaul Verstappen in the title race

"I felt pretty comfortable at the start and then the grip was coming up a lot through the session," said Piastri.

"With the track this year it's hard enough to see where you're going, let alone trying to do a fast lap, so it's challenging out there.

"But happy to have qualified on pole for the Sprint. My first lap didn't feel amazing and I knew there were a few places to improve and the second lap was good, and the tyres hung on. So very, very happy, so excited to be starting off P1."

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After qualifying second for the Sprint, Norris refused to be drawn on his title battle with Red Bull's Max Verstappen

Reigning world champion Verstappen, who has a five-place grid penalty for Sunday's main race due to a new engine, never looked like challenging for the top positions but limited the damage in fourth, as Leclerc got everything out of his Ferrari in third.

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Verstappen believes the resurfacing at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix contributed to his struggle to reach fourth in Sprint Qualifying

Ferrari did not show their supreme speed from Mexico City a week ago as most recent race-winner Sainz was only fifth, but they could be a factor if their tyre degradation is strong.

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Carlos Sainz, Charles Leclerc and team principle Fred Vasseur take a closer look at the challenges Ferrari faced during Sprint Qualifying at the Sau Paulo Grand Prix

Piastri willing to give up win for Norris

Depending on what happens at the start, McLaren may deploy team orders to aid Norris' bid in the Drivers' Championship, especially with Verstappen in fourth.

McLaren have said since the start of September that they will prioritise Norris and Saturday could provide the first opportunity for the team to show a clear preference towards the British driver during a race.

"We'll see what the pace is like for both of us. I think first and second is the first objective and then we'll see what order it is," said Piastri.

Does Piastri-Norris order create a problem?

Sky Sports F1's Damon Hill on McLaren's Sprint qualifying one-two:

"They have absolutely nailed it.

"McLaren have now got a problem because they’ve got two cars in a very tricky situation with kind of the wrong guy on pole, but we’re going to have to see what happens in the Sprint.

"I know that I'm not in the running for the drivers' standings, for the team it doesn't matter which way round we are, so I know that's the case and we'll see.

"I've said I would [relinquish a victory] from when we first had these discussions. It would be nice to win, but it's one point different and it's not the main race, so we'll see.

"Lando needs the points in the drivers' standings a lot more than I do, but of course I still want to win. If I put in the effort and show good pace I'm sure that won't go unnoticed, but we'll see."

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Hamilton and Perez knocked out early

Hamilton's one-lap struggles continue as he was simply not quick enough in SQ2 and will start the Sprint in 11th.

The seven-time world champion, who has already been beaten in the normal qualifying head-to-head against Russell this year, says he is "not massively bothered" about the result.

"Pretty bad, but the same as every qualifying for me. Not that I'm happy about it, but I just don't have any confidence in the car, so a big struggle for me," said Hamilton.

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Lewis Hamilton admitted he has no confidence in the car as Mercedes struggled in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix Sprint qualification

"The ride is pretty bad on the track I think for everyone. The track's been resurfaced and they've not done a particularly great job I think, so it's bumpy for everyone.

"Practice was like Baku 2022 for us down the straight, it was hitting so hard. So we did lift the car. It was a little bit better in terms of it wasn't hitting the deck so badly, so I wasn't in pain or anything like that.

"But through corners, the thing topping through all the corners, so the thing was very hard to drive."

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Sergio Perez fumed on the Red Bull team radio as he and Hamilton had an early exit in SQ2 at the Sao Paulo GP

Perez will start just two places behind Hamilton in 13th after he was unable to complete a final run in SQ2 as Red Bull appeared to let him out of the garage too late.

After a weekend which Christian Horner described as "horrible" in Mexico City, Perez is coming under increasing pressure to retain his seat at Red Bull for next year, despite having a contract.

Lawson's impressive eighth place will only add to the scrutiny, with the New Zealand driver favourite to replace Perez if changes are made.

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Sao Paulo GP Sprint Qualifying Timesheet

Driver Team Time
1) Oscar Piastri McLaren 1:08.899
2) Lando Norris McLaren +0.029
3) Charles Leclerc Ferrari +0.254
4) Max Verstappen Red Bull +0.320
5) Carlos Sainz Ferrari +0.358
6) George Russell Mercedes +0.544
7) Pierre Gasly Alpine +0.723
8) Liam Lawson RB +1.042
9) Alex Albon Williams +1.179
10) Oliver Bearman Haas No time set
Knocked out in SQ2
11) Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:09.941
12) Nico Hulkenberg Haas 1:09.964
13) Sergio Perez Red Bull 1:10.024
14) Franco Colapinto Williams 1:10.275
15) Valtteri Bottas Sauber 1:10.595
Knocked out in SQ1
16) Fernando Alonso Aston Martin 1:10.978
17) Esteban Ocon Alpine 1:11.052
18) Yuki Tsunoda RB 1:11.121
19) Lance Stroll Aston Martin 1:11.280
20) Zhou Guanyu Sauber 1:12.978

Sky Sports F1's live Sao Paulo GP schedule

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Look back at some of the most dramatic moments to have taken place at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Saturday November 2
1pm: Sao Paulo GP Sprint build-up
2pm: Sao Paulo GP Sprint
3.30pm: Ted's Sprint Notebook
5pm: Sao Paulo Qualifying build-up
6pm: Sao Paulo GP Qualifying
8pm: Ted's Qualifying Notebook

Sunday November 3
3.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Sao Paulo GP build-up
5pm: THE SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX
7pm: Chequered Flag: Sao Paulo GP reaction
8pm: Ted's Notebook

Formula 1's Americas triple header concludes this weekend with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, with every session live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership - No contract, cancel anytime

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