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Norris grabs the sprint pole at the Brazilian GP from title rivals

Norris grabs the sprint pole at the Brazilian GP from title rivals
McLaren’s Lando Norris during sprint qualifying F1 — Sao Paulo Grand Prix — Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, Sao Paulo, Nov. 7, 2025. (Reuters)
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Updated 10 sec ago

Norris grabs the sprint pole at the Brazilian GP from title rivals

Norris grabs the sprint pole at the Brazilian GP from title rivals
  • “It was difficult and we did a good job,” Norris said on Friday.
  • Norris is coming off a win in Mexico City and leads the driver standings by one point over Piastri. Verstappen was 36 points back

SAO PAULO: Lando Norris set up a chance to pad his one-point lead in Formula 1 by securing pole position for the sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Saturday.
Of his title rivals, McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri will start third and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will be sixth.
“It was difficult and we did a good job,” Norris said on Friday.
Norris is coming off a win in Mexico City and leads the driver standings by one point over Piastri. Verstappen was 36 points back.
For the sprint pole, Norris beat Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli by only 0.097 seconds and Piastri was just 0.185s behind.
“We did the job we needed to do which was to be fastest today,” Norris said.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella was rapt with the results. Norris and Piastri were also 1-2 in the first practice on Friday.
“The mood is very positive,” Stella said. “We have what is needed. We have a fast car, two fast drivers, a team that is prepared and determined and we definitely will keep the fight going until the last corner in Abu Dhabi.”
Piastri has struggled lately; he’s winless in five races and has not reached the podium since Monza in Italy two months ago when he finished third.
Verstappen, who aims to become the fourth driver to win five world titles, knows how to win in Brazil after victories in 2019, 2023 and 2024, when he fought from 17th at the start.
“We are very excited by the idea that we could be the one that are attempting to kind of stop Verstappen’s dominance,” Stella said.
The Dutchman has shown great poise at Interlagos, a track featuring climbs and drops with changes of gradient. The middle sector has slow corners where aerodynamic downforce can make the difference.
The track is also renowned for its dramatic changes in weather. Rain is expected toward the end of Saturday and throughout Sunday. A year ago, the qualifying was canceled and moved to Sunday due to torrential downpours.
“It was a good day for us, but we will see tomorrow,” Piastri said with a smile. “it is going to be raining so everybody bring their rain jacket.”


Bellingham and Foden back in England squad but no room for Alexander-Arnold

Bellingham and Foden back in England squad but no room for Alexander-Arnold
Updated 7 sec ago

Bellingham and Foden back in England squad but no room for Alexander-Arnold

Bellingham and Foden back in England squad but no room for Alexander-Arnold
Foden is back to his best form with Manchester City, too, scoring twice against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday
“I think the contribution of both of them to their clubs lately was immense,” Tuchel said

LONDON: Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden were recalled Friday by England coach Thomas Tuchel for the team’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Serbia and Albania.
The attacking midfielders — two of the country’s most talented players — were left out of England’s last squad, with Tuchel stressing the need to have a strong team spirit in the camp and warning there would be “no guarantees” for his superstar players.
Bellingham has started all five of Real Madrid’s games since the last international break, scoring in three of them, and looks to be fully recovered after missing the start of the season because of shoulder surgery.
Foden is back to his best form with Manchester City, too, scoring twice against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday.
“I think the contribution of both of them to their clubs lately was immense,” Tuchel said.
“They play regularly, they play a big role in the success of Real and City’s matches lately. They score regularly decisive goals. We are delighted they are in shape, in form and back with us.”
England have already qualified for the World Cup, with a 5-0 victory over Latvia in October guaranteeing Tuchel’s team first place in their group and taking their qualifying record to six wins from six matches.
The campaign has also included a 5-0 win in Serbia, a statement performance under Tuchel when Bellingham and Foden were absent and Morgan Rogers played in the No. 10 position.
Tuchel explained that if England hadn’t yet qualified, he would pick the same team as he chose last month — an indication that Bellingham and Foden still have work to do to recover their places in the starting XI.
“It’s the same headline — more of the same please and build on what we have already built,” Tuchel said. “Come with the same energy.
“We would have selected the same team if we needed both games to win. If it was a playoff to qualify for the World Cup, I would have selected the same team.”
There was a first call-up for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott and a recall for Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, while there was no place for Madrid right back Trent Alexander-Arnold or Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins.