P1racenews AI automatic summary:
McLaren is sporting a special rear wing for this weekend’s São Paulo GP and it paid handsome dividends in sprint qualifying.
Oscar Piastri had a stunning performance in sprint qualifying at Interlagos, outshining his McLaren teammate Lando Norris to secure the top spot on the F1 grid in São Paulo. Despite the cooler temperatures and grey clouds during sprint qualifying, Piastri managed to set the fastest time and claim his second sprint pole by narrowly beating Norris. The all-McLaren front row with a special rear wing for this grand prix proved to be successful, with Charles Leclerc starting third and Max Verstappen in fourth behind Norris. Carlos Sainz and George Russell start fifth and sixth respectively, with Sergio Perez and Lewis Hamilton struggling and starting 13th and 11th. Aston Martin faced a double disaster with Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll being knocked out in the first session, while Norris and Verstappen dominated with impressive lap times in SQ2. Despite the intense competition, Piastri’s exceptional performance and McLaren’s strength put them in a favorable position for the upcoming main qualifying and grand prix in São Paulo.