'Relieved' Norris takes pole in Brazil as Verstappen starts in 17th

Sao Paulo: Lando Norrissecured pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix and a boost for his title challenge on Sunday as a furious Max Verstappen, f...

Sao Paulo: Lando Norris secured pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix and a boost for his title challenge on Sunday as a furious Max Verstappen, facing a five-place grid penalty, qualified 12th from a delayed rainswept qualifying.

McLaren's Norris, who is 44 points behind championship leader Verstappen, drove with great skill in difficult conditions that saw qualifying interrupted by five red flags, pulling out a best final lap of one minute and 23.405 seconds.

It was good enough to edge out Mercedes George Russell by just 0.173 seconds.

All the top drivers made their best times in the final seconds on a drying track that supplied increased grip - enabling RB's Yuki Tsunoda to take a career-best third ahead of Alpine's Esteban Ocon and Liam Lawson in the second RB.

It was Norris's eighth career pole, his fifth in seven races and seventh this year, giving him a great opportunity to reduce Verstappen's 44-point lead in the title race as the three-time champion faces a five-place penalty.