Kevin Magnussen secures surprise pole position for sprint race at Brazilian Grand Prix

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“You’re kidding ?” While qualifying was interrupted on Friday, November 11, after George Russell went off the track, and the rain came to the Interlagos circuit (Brazil), Kevin Magnussen could not believe it when his engineer told him that he occupies the first position. Despite the eight minutes remaining in Q3, neither driver was able to improve his time on a wet track, allowing the Dane to take his first pole position and offer a first pole to the Haas team. He will start first in the sprint race on Saturday, ahead of Max Verstappen, second, and George Russell, third.

This pole position rewards a good qualifying session by Kevin Magnussen, seventh in Q1 then in Q2, while his teammate, Mick Schumacher, failed in last place and was eliminated in Q1, which should not help secure a new contract for next year. In Q3, the Dane had a very good first lap, before the rain intensified, in 1’11”674, two tenths ahead of Max Verstappen. George Russell’s exit from the track and the interruption to evacuate his car put an end to the attempts of his competitors, who then did not have the opportunity to improve their times, the track having become wet.

“I don’t know what to say. The team got me on track at the right time, I had a pretty decent lap and I’m on pole, it’s unbelievable. I’m coming back to F1 this year after a year on touch, and it’s incredible”reacted the Dane.

If Carlos Sainz will start from fifth place on Saturday, his teammate Charles Leclerc still has reason to rail against his team’s strategy. The Monegasque driver was launched on track by Ferrari on intermediate tires at the start of Q3, before the rain fell on Interlagos, and he failed to set a correct time. Called back to the pits too late, he finally put on soft tires as the weather approached. With George Russell’s accident, the Ferrari driver did not finally have time to set a good time, and will therefore start from 10th place, just behind Sergio Perez, his competitor for the place of vice-champion. of the world.

On the French side, Esteban Ocon will start from sixth position and Pierre Gasly will start from 12th place.


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