By Andrew Benson, F1 Correspondent.
McLaren’s Lando Norris took pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in a wet qualifying session at Interlagos delayed by nearly an hour and a half for heavy rain.
Norris beat fellow Briton George Russell by 0.204 seconds, and the Mercedes driver was fuming that he could have been faster had he not been told by his engineer to abort a faster lap.
In any case, Russell has a five-place grid penalty for exceeding his permitted number of engine parts, promoting team-mate and new world champion Kimi Antonelli to second.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc qualified fourth but has a 10-place grid penalty which promotes Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson to third.
The New Zealander was one of a number of drivers to have their best qualifying session of the year thanks to the levelling effect of the wet weather.
Also among them were Audi’s Nico Hulkenberg, who qualified sixth and will start fourth, Haas driver Oliver Bearman, who was eighth and will start sixth, and Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, who was ninth and will move up one place to eighth.
More to follow.