Penalties surface on the final Brazilian Grand Prix Formula One starting grid,
Lando Norris, a title contender, will start from pole position and share the front row with George Russell’s Mercedes.
In third place, ahead of Esteban Ocon’s Alpine, Yuki Tsunoda has his highest-ever grid position. This is his best starting position of the otherwise challenging 2024 season.
In addition, Liam Lawson holds a personal best starting position of fifth, ahead of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari.
After his qualifying incident, Alex Albon, who was scheduled to start seventh, will not be starting the race. Williams didn’t have time to make the necessary repairs.
Oscar Piastri will still start eighth (as the seventh vehicle on the grid) and ahead of the Aston Martin team of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll because his starting position will remain unoccupied.
The crew had two urgent repair tasks to finish before the race after both Astons were involved in collisions during qualifying.
Prior to Sergio Perez’s Red Bull, Valtteri Bottas’ Sauber will start from the eleventh position on the grid.
Another driver who raised one of the five red lights during qualifying, Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari, will get off the pits.
In his Alpine, Pierre Gasly is ranked 13th, ahead of Ollie Bearman and Lewis Hamilton.
Max Verstappen, the leader in F1 points, qualified in 12th place but is now in 17th place after serving a five-place grid penalty. Despite Sainz’s pitlane start, he will still be in 17th place. However, he has already successfully moved up to grid number 7, leaving Albon in his place.
Following him are Nico Hulkenberg, Zhou Guanyu, and Franco Colapinto, whose Williams also requires repairs following a qualifying shunt.
Brazilian Grand Prix preliminary starting grid
- Lando Norris
- George Russell
- Yuki Tsunoda
- Esteban Ocon
- Liam Lawson
- Charles Leclerc
- Alex Albon (DNS*)
- Oscar Piastri
- Fernando Alonso
- Lance Stroll
- Valtteri Bottas
- Sergio Perez
- Pierre Gasly
- Lewis Hamilton
- Ollie Bearman
- Franco Colapinto
- Max Verstappen**
- Nico Hulkenberg
- Zhou Guanyu
Carlos Sainz in the pitlane,
>Albon will not start, and the P7 grid spot will remain unfilled.
>A grid penalty of five places for changing the engine
>Pitlane start for replacement engine parts