Oscar Piastri claimed pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix sprint race, making it a strong start for McLaren, with teammate Lando Norris following close in second place. Max Verstappen, however, will face a five-place grid penalty for Sunday’s race after opting to install a new engine, which brings him over the season’s engine limit. This decision could impact the championship lead, with Norris looking to narrow the gap behind Verstappen, who currently holds a 47-point lead.
Reflecting on his sprint qualifying performance, Piastri described the challenging conditions. “It was a tricky session,” he said. “I felt comfortable initially, but the grip levels kept changing as the session went on. With this track, visibility is already a struggle, let alone trying to pull off a fast lap. It’s tough out there, but I’m happy to take pole for the sprint.”
The FIA announced Verstappen’s penalty on Friday, confirming that he has now used six engines this season, surpassing the allowed four. Verstappen’s fifth engine change already cost him a 10-place penalty back at the Belgian Grand Prix in July. He finished the morning practice in 15th place, a second behind Norris, and later managed fourth in sprint qualifying, trailing Piastri by 0.320 seconds.
This penalty could play to Norris’s advantage, adding some suspense to Sunday’s race as he looks to capitalize on the opportunity to close in on Verstappen in the standings. The Dutch driver’s dominance this season has been clear, but his grid penalty offers a potential opening for rivals. As the season heads into its final four races, Verstappen will have to manage his position carefully.
While speaking on Thursday, Verstappen hinted at uncertainty over the engine change for Brazil. Yet, the strategic move highlights the tight balancing act between securing immediate performance gains and managing season-long engine allocations. With Piastri’s pole and Norris’s second-place start, McLaren appears poised to challenge for points in Brazil’s sprint and feature races.