Norris takes pole – Verstappen regains top spot in rain

The next round of the championship fight was announced as a long-distance duel. McLaren's Lando Norris started from pole position at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, with Red Bull Racing leader Max Verstappen starting from 17th.

It was still raining in São Paulo so conditions were not ideal. However, there was less rain than on Saturday, when racing was not allowed. For drivers, the task is difficult enough—sometimes too difficult. Incidents involving Ferrari's Carlos Sainz, Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll and Williams' Alexander Albon and Franco Colapinto Proved this. After Dreher, the quintet found themselves stuck in a track hazard and giving their mechanics a lot of extra work.

The weather kept the riders and other team members up early. Qualifying started at 7.30am local time as the race management moved up the start time of the Grand Prix by an hour and a half to 12.30pm (4.30pm Swiss time). The decision is based on rainfall expected to increase again on Sunday.

Bumps on the track also left their mark on the starting line – and even more so for Norris from the perspective of both championship candidates. While the Briton created the best starting position by winning pole position, his eighth at the Grand Prix, Max Verstappen was one of the biggest losers.

Max Verstappen started from 17th position.Image: trapezoid

The Red Bull world champion finished qualifying in 12th place, but due to an engine change exceeding the allowed quota, he was only given a starting position in 17th place and had to accept a five-place drop back. The disappointing performance wasn't just self-inflicted. Stroll's accident less than a minute before the end of the second part of qualifying prevented the Dutchman from breaking the lap time in better conditions.

Norris has a chance to further catch up with Verstappen, who leads the championship. As the number one chaser, the Briton trails the three-time world champion by 44 points ahead of the penultimate grand prix of the season.

Norris' compatriot George Russell occupied the front row in a Mercedes. Surprisingly, they were followed by Japanese Yuki Tsunoda (Team Bull Racing), Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Alps) and New Zealander Liam Lawson (Team Bull Racing).

Valtteri Bottas has given Sauber hope of a first tangible result of the season. The Finn finished 11th, his second-best result in qualifying this season. Bottas started tenth at the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. And Zhou Guanyu, under such conditions, could not make progress. The Chinese team once again had to queue at the back of the starting queue. (National Institutes of Health/National Security Agency)

YB only achieved half of the victory, and even after a goalless draw with FC Zurich in the 13th round, the champions are still waiting for two consecutive victories. Basel beat FC Winterthur again.

The showdown between leaders and champions ended without a goal: FC Zurich narrowly managed to score in the final stages against a badly beaten Bernese side. The game could go either way. The Young Boys had their good times, as did FC Zurich. Ultimately, both teams lacked the precision and ultimate determination to win the three points. In the end, FCZ was one step closer to victory. In the 89th minute, Juan Perea's powerful header failed to hit the post.