Sao Paulo GP Qualifying: Kevin Magnussen takes maiden F1 pole after George Russell spins in rain

Kevin Magnussen takes exceptional maiden F1 pole after thrilling moist Qualifying session at Sao Paulo GP; world champion Max Verstappen second, with George Russell third regardless of spin; watch the Sao Paulo GP Dash on Saturday at 7:30pm on Saturday, with build-up from 6:30pm

Kevin Magnussen claimed each his and Haas’ first System 1 pole as moist circumstances arrange an exhilarating upset in Qualifying on the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Magnussen will begin Saturday’s Dash in Brazil on the entrance of the grid, with world champion Max Verstappen second for Purple Bull.

The 30-year-old Dane was prime of the timesheet with eight minutes remaining of Q3 when Mercedes’ George Russell, who will begin third, spun right into a gravel entice and triggered a purple flag.

The rain, which had fallen at various ranges of depth all through qualifying, then strengthened, that means no driver might enhance as soon as the session resumed, leaving Magnussen and Haas to have fun a exceptional triumph.

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Magnussen was left in disbelief when he was instructed he had set the quickest time in Qualifying

Having topped the timesheet in Q1, Lando Norris maintained spectacular velocity to take fourth for McLaren, forward of Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz, who’s dealing with a five-place grid penalty in Sunday’s race after taking a brand new engine.

Alpine duo Esteban Ocon and Fernando Alonso adopted in sixth and seventh, outperforming Lewis Hamilton, who might be upset to have did not make the most of circumstances he normally excels in, at one among his favorite tracks.

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George Russell misplaced management of his Mercedes and obtained beached within the gravel, bringing out the purple flag throughout Q3 in Brazil

Purple Bull’s Sergio Perez was ninth after his flying lap was compromised by being behind Charles Leclerc, who rounded out the highest 10 after Ferrari bizarrely despatched the Monegasque out on intermediate tyres at the beginning of Q3.

Sao Paulo GP: Qualifying Outcome, Prime 10
1) Kevin Magnussen, Haas
2) Max Verstappen, Purple Bull
3) George Russell, Mercedes
4) Lando Norris, McLaren
5) Carlos Sainz, Ferrari
6) Esteban Ocon, Alpine
7) Fernando Alonso, Alpine
8) Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
9) Sergio Perez, Purple Bull
10) Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Spectacular scenes as Magnussen takes pole

Magnussen’s F1 profession gave the impression to be over when he was let go by Haas on the finish of the 2020 season, however he returned as a short-notice substitute for Russia’s Nikita Mazepin at the beginning of this yr.

The Dane, who drove for McLaren and Renault earlier than becoming a member of Haas in 2017, has impressed all through 2022, however Friday’s Qualifying triumph put a fairytale ending on his return to the game.

The outcome was a preferred one all through the paddock, with even drivers who had missed out on a uncommon shot at pole expressing their delight at their rival’s success.

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Magnussen says his Haas automotive dealt with the damp circumstances completely as he struggled to grasp his pole place for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix

“I got here in as this boastful little child pondering I used to be the king of the world,” Magnussen instructed Sky Sports activities F1. “I had a number of classes after that, exhibiting how tough it really is on this sport.

“Now I am on pole place so I am simply going to get pleasure from it.”

Whereas there was fortune connected with the timing of the rain, Magnussen’s place on the prime of the timesheet was absolutely earned.

Except for Leclerc and Perez, the opposite eight drivers had a transparent shot at a flying lap on contemporary comfortable tyres, and it was Magnussen who emerged quickest.

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Karun Chandhok was on the SkyPad to look again at how Magnussen sealed his maiden System One pole

The Haas was the primary automotive out on observe, however the benefit from that – because the rain strengthened – was solely marginal at finest

Russell’s spin, throughout which he narrowly averted the barrier however then ended up within the gravel, noticed the session stopped, and because the rain obtained heavier, it dawned on Magnussen and the gang {that a} particular second was occurring.

Having been instructed over radio he was prime of the timesheet because the rain intensified, Magnussen expressed his pleasure however warned his group it was not over.

That warning quickly gave strategy to celebrations, with solely Perez and Hamilton bothering to take to the observe – on intermediate tyres – within the remaining eight minutes of the session.

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Haas group principal Guenther Steiner says Magnussen’s fairytale pole place was not all the way down to luck and was nicely deserved

“I nonetheless cannot actually imagine it,” Magnussen added.

“What an outstanding job the group did to place me out on the pitlane as the primary automotive to offer me the most effective piece of observe. It was beginning to rain in order that was the essential half.”

The Brazilian crowd cheered as photos on large screens across the observe confirmed Magnussen celebrating in his automotive, earlier than Haas group principal Guenther Steiner emerged from the pitwall to take acclaim from spectators on the house straight.

Whereas there aren’t any factors awarded for Qualifying, the pole represents a prized second for one among F1’s smallest groups, who solely got here into the game in 2016.