Russell drops to seventh after engine penalty despite Brazilian GP pole lap
George Russell secured a 0.204-second advantage over Lando Norris for Brazilian Grand Prix pole, but a five-place grid penalty for an engine change drops him to seventh.
Practice, qualifying, race
Grand Prix race reports, qualifying recaps and practice notes from every F1 weekend, with results, key moments and what they mean for the title fight.
George Russell secured a 0.204-second advantage over Lando Norris for Brazilian Grand Prix pole, but a five-place grid penalty for an engine change drops him to seventh.
Formula 1 has extended the São Paulo Grand Prix contract to 2035, adding five years to the previous deal. CEO Stefano Domenicali highlighted the circuit's history and the passion of Brazilian fans, who have produced 33 F1 drivers.
Heavy rain forced the FIA to deploy a red flag at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after just two minutes of qualifying. With no valid lap times set, the grid remains undetermined as a 63 percent chance of rain threatens the Sunday race.
Max Verstappen set the fastest time in Brazilian GP Free Practice 3, beating Kimi Antonelli by 0.025 seconds. However, he faces a back-of-grid start due to power unit changes, while Lewis Hamilton struggled with mechanical issues and finished 12th.
FIA stewards issued Rafael Camara an official reprimand after he forced Charles Leclerc to take evasive action during FP2 at Interlagos. The 21-year-old Haas driver ignored radio warnings, creating a dangerous situation on a fast section of the track during his Formula 1 debut.
Haas replaces Esteban Ocon with F2 leader Rafa Camara for the remainder of the season following disputes in Mexico City. The 21-year-old Brazilian driver faces significant challenges at Interlagos, including unfamiliarity with the 2026 car and unpredictable weather conditions.
Mercedes leads the 2026 constructors' championship with 630 points, holding a 126-point advantage over Ferrari. To secure the ninth title, the Silver Arrows must outscore the Scuderia by at least three points in the upcoming Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
FIA stewards issued post-race penalties to Alpine drivers Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto for yellow flag infringements in Mexico. The decisions demoted both drivers from scoring positions, allowing Haas debutant Ryo Hirakawa to secure a point in tenth place.
Valtteri Bottas hit the barrier at 320kph after his Cadillac suspension failed at Turn 1, forcing race director Rui Marques to red flag the Mexican Grand Prix. Max Verstappen led the race following a 35-minute delay to repair the track barriers.
Max Verstappen finished qualifying in P4 at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez after Lando Norris occupied the right side of the track at Turn 12. Verstappen will start the race from fifth following a grid penalty incurred after colliding with Liam Lawson.
Max Verstappen will start fifth at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez following a grid penalty for a collision with Liam Lawson and a lock-up during qualifying. Red Bull faces ongoing reliability issues with race starts that team principal Laurent Mekies says cannot be fully resolved until 2027.
FIA stewards introduced new driving standards for the Mexico Grand Prix to prevent drivers from gaining advantages by cutting corners. The rules require drivers who leave the track at Turns 1 to 3 or Turns 4 to 6 to yield positions to avoid penalties during the opening lap.
Lewis Hamilton claimed his first pole position for Ferrari in Mexico, beating George Russell by 0.009 seconds to reach 105 career poles. The 41-year-old driver overcame a technical issue on Friday to become the oldest driver to score a pole since Mario Andretti in 1982.