Lando Norris has taken pole position for the sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix, positioning himself to extend his narrow one-point lead in the Formula 1 championship.
Among his closest rivals, McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri qualified third, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen started sixth.
“It was difficult and we did a good job,” Norris said on Friday.
Norris, fresh from a win in Mexico City, holds a one-point advantage over Piastri in the driver standings, with Verstappen trailing by 36 points.
For the sprint pole, Norris edged out Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli by 0.097 seconds; Piastri was just 0.185 seconds behind Norris.
“We did the job we needed to do which was to be fastest today,” Norris added.
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella expressed great satisfaction with the results, highlighting the strong pace of the car and the drivers’ determination.
“The mood is very positive. We have a fast car, two fast drivers, a team that is prepared and determined and we definitely will keep the fight going until the last corner in Abu Dhabi.”
Norris and Piastri also dominated the first practice session on Friday, securing first and second places.
Despite Piastri's recent difficulties, Norris’s performance and McLaren's competitive car keep the championship fight alive heading into the final races.
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