Final starting grid for Sprint Race at Interlagos | 2021 Brazilian GP. Final starting grid for Sprint Race at Interlagos.

Friday qualifying is back for the third time this season – a session that decided the starting grid for the sprint qualifying on Saturday – and once again there was a great spectacle and emotions in Sao Paulo, with the challenge of the uncertainty in having had only one free practice session to fine-tune the cars before the flying lap. Reversing once again the prediction ahead of the race weekend, and thanks to the new engine fitted (with consequent penalty of five positions on the grid on Sunday) Lewis Hamilton takes the pole position on Saturday: the Briton has consistently been the fastest from the first laps of Q1, ahead of Max Verstappen by four tenths.

Nothing to do for the Dutchman, who will still have the chance to attack his rival for the title at the start tomorrow despite the knowledge that he has a great advantage for the actual Grand Prix. Third was Valtteri Bottas, half a second behind his teammate, then Sergio Perez’s second Red Bull in fourth.

Another great performance for Pierre Gasly, who has become more and more a confirmation in the top side of the standing. The AlphaTauri Frenchman preceded the Ferrari cars of Carlos Sainz and Charles Leclerc, as the Maranello team was once again ahead of the McLarens of Lando Norris and Daniel Ricciardo and the Alpine of Fernando Alonso.

Out in Q2 the two Alfa Romeos of Kimi Raikkonen and Antonio Giovinazzi, who closed the session behind Esteban Ocon, Sebastian Vettel and Yuki Tsunoda. The surprise in Q1 is all at Williams, with Nicholas Latifi ahead of George Russell just behind the other great disappointment of the day, Lance Stroll. Last row for Cinderella Haas: Mick Schumacher leads once again – albeit with a gap of ‘just’ two and a half tenths – Nikita Mazepin.

F1 | GP San Paolo 2021, the starting grid for the Sprint Race