Qualifying at Interlagos delivered one of the most dramatic reversals of fortune in recent memory. For the first time since Sochi 2021, Max Verstappen was eliminated in Q1, and for the first time since 2006 Japan, both Red Bulls failed to escape the opening session. What began as a bold attempt to recover from a rough sprint unraveled into a self-inflicted implosion that left the reigning champions stranded near the back.
Red Bull’s gamble to install Tsunoda’s softer, higher setup on Verstappen’s car, intended to stabilize the rear after his sprint struggles, proved catastrophic. The car lost its balance and grip entirely, forcing Verstappen to underdrive just to keep it on track. The overnight rebuild that was meant to cure his bottoming problems instead produced a sluggish, unpredictable chassis that left him powerless. It was a risk the team had to take to unlock more performance, but one that backfired spectacularly.
By the end of Q1, Red Bull had become the story for all the wrong reasons. Verstappen’s exit was his first on raw pace, ending a nineteen-year run of Q1 immunity for the team. It was the purest illustration of how tight the current grid has become, an error in setup or misread of conditions now has championship consequences. The irony was brutal: both Racing Bulls finished in the top ten on merit while their senior team failed to progress. The junior team’s evolution into genuine midfield contenders underlined how dramatically the hierarchy had inverted.
Mechanically, the weekend has pushed Red Bull’s operational limits. The team rebuilt cars, changed setups twice, and still found themselves off the rhythm of the front runners. Even Verstappen admitted there was little feedback left to give; the car was simply undrivable. Red Bull’s 2025 upgrades, strong in Mexico, have clearly upset the balance on high-load circuits, pulling performance away from the sweet spot that made the car predictable earlier in the season. What was once effortless dominance has become an exercise in troubleshooting.
The decision to start Verstappen and Tsunoda from the pit lane with new power units reflects a team acknowledging the inevitable. The setup change allows them to chase a more aggressive balance for race day, with fresh engines primed for Vegas and Abu Dhabi. It’s the right call: better to start last with a working car than 16th with none. Interlagos rewards risk, and at this point, Red Bull has nothing to lose.
McLaren and Mercedes Set the Pace
At the other end of the grid, Lando Norris produced a pole lap worthy of a title contender. His 1:09.511 was not just quick, it was measured perfection. It also gave him his fifteenth career pole, and notably, the first time he’s repeated at any circuit. The lap underscored how complete Norris’ transformation has been since midseason; the driver once accused of overdriving has found the composure to string together clean, high-pressure laps on demand. The narrow 0.528-second spread between first and tenth, the closest Q3 top-ten in F1 history, showed the sport at its most competitive.
Norris’ resurgence is no coincidence. The mental reset that began in Monaco, including his quiet decision to stop chasing the delta time mid-lap, has produced a driver with a surgeon’s touch. Every apex, every throttle input in São Paulo felt deliberate. There’s no panic, no overcorrection, just precision and faith in the car beneath him. His recent run has turned the McLaren from quick to inevitable, and this qualifying session, like the championship as a whole, felt entirely within his control.
Mercedes, meanwhile, continued its late-season climb. Kimi Antonelli’s P2 solidified what’s been his strongest weekend yet. The rookie not only outqualified George Russell but did so with confidence, rhythm, and authority. His one-lap pace has caught up to his racecraft, and it’s clear that the young Italian has broken through whatever barrier held him earlier in the season. This is no longer a surprise performance, it’s the mark of a driver who’s starting to belong at the front. His evolution has been steady, built on consistency and confidence, and Interlagos might well be the moment he arrived for good.
Leclerc’s Damage Limitation Masterclass
Leclerc’s third place was equally significant, achieved in a car that fought him every step of the way. The Ferrari looked unstable across both qualifying sessions, but he extracted everything it had to offer. His ability to recalibrate mid-session and recover from early errors continues to be his defining trait. The lap that secured P3 was less about outright speed and more about tenacity, turning a car with no rear grip into a podium contender through sheer control.
Ferrari’s deficit to Mercedes in the cooler afternoon air suggests a tough race ahead, but Leclerc’s consistency could still be pivotal in the constructors’ fight. His recent string of podium-caliber drives is keeping Ferrari relevant even as Hamilton struggles to adapt to Maranello’s inconsistent machinery. While the spotlight has shifted to McLaren and Mercedes, Leclerc remains one of the grid’s sharpest operators in qualifying trim, extracting results that the car doesn’t always deserve.
A Grid Like No Other
The final grid tells a story that only Interlagos could write: Norris, Antonelli, and Leclerc leading a Q3 devoid of world champions for the first time since Sakhir 2020. It’s an almost poetic snapshot of a generational shift, the new order taking shape while the legends start from the midfield and beyond.
Hamilton, Alonso, and Verstappen now line up outside the top ten, all carrying either compromised setups or self-inflicted wounds. The symbolism isn’t lost: the sport’s veterans chasing from behind while its future leads from the front. Antonelli beside Norris on the grid feels like a preview of the next era.
The midfield continues to impress. Hadjar and Lawson both delivered clean, composed performances to put Visa Cash App RB fifth and seventh, a reward for methodical progress rather than fortune. Bearman’s P8 reinforces the same story: young drivers performing beyond their machinery. Gasly’s ninth place gave Alpine a rare reason to smile after weeks of struggle, while Hulkenberg quietly rounded out the top ten with his trademark efficiency.
The Fallen Giants
Further back, Hamilton’s subdued tone, “I can’t do anything from there,” summed up Ferrari’s frustrations. The car remains temperamental, offering Leclerc hope while leaving his new teammate mired in inconsistency. There’s a lingering sense that Hamilton’s move to Ferrari was more about legacy than lap time, a partnership rich in symbolism but light on results. His lack of confidence in qualifying rhythm, coupled with Ferrari’s setup unpredictability, has turned what should have been a late-career renaissance into an uphill climb.
For Verstappen, the question is no longer about driver performance but direction. The car has drifted from his natural style, and the team’s engineering focus seems scattered between recovery and the looming 2026 project. With the championship likely slipping away, Interlagos may mark the point where Red Bull officially moves from defending to rebuilding.
Chaos Still Lurking
Despite forecasts suggesting a dry race, Interlagos rarely plays by the book. Drainage work overnight to fix Saturday’s standing-water issues raised eyebrows, and late-day temperature drops could still shake the order. The narrow time spread hints at a race where even small shifts, tire warmup, track evolution, safety cars, could reset the entire grid. For those starting in the midfield, especially the likes of Russell, Hadjar, or Bearman, patience may prove as valuable as outright pace.
The Interlagos Constant
Every year, this circuit seems to distill Formula 1 to its purest form: chaos, craft, and the closeness of modern performance. The 2025 qualifying session wasn’t just a shake-up, it was a glimpse at the sport’s next generation staking its claim.
Lando Norris was untouchable when it counted most. Kimi Antonelli arrived. Charles Leclerc refused to yield. And Red Bull, after nearly two decades of certainty, found itself humbled. The championship pendulum may finally have swung for good, but in Brazil, nothing is ever truly over until the lights go out.