Sao Paulo GP 2026: Lewis Hamilton Secures Pole, Verstappen Second

In a high‑octane opening session at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes clinched pole position for the 2026 São Paulo Grand Prix, setting the fastest lap in the final qualifying round. Per Motorsport Week, Hamilton’s lap time of 1:17.342 was 0.067 seconds clear of Max Verstappen, who lined up second for Red Bull Racing. The Dutchman’s 1:17.409 was a mere 0.067 seconds slower, a gap that could prove decisive on the tight, twisty Brazilian circuit.

Behind the front‑two, the midfield battle was intense. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) secured third place with a 1:17.821, while Lando Norris (McLaren) followed in fourth with a 1:17.912. The rest of the grid was completed by a mix of seasoned veterans and rookie hopefuls, including Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) and George Russell (Mercedes) who finished fifth and sixth respectively. The session saw no major incidents, allowing teams to focus on fine‑tuning their race setups.

For Indian fans, the race will be streamed live on FanCode from 4:00 PM IST, with commentary in Hindi and English. The qualifying session, which began at 11:30 AM IST, was broadcast on Star Sports 1, providing a clear view of the track’s demanding layout and the drivers’ strategies. Fans can also catch the full race on Star Sports 2, starting at 7:00 PM IST.

Hamilton’s pole gives Mercedes a psychological edge, but Verstappen’s close second shows that Red Bull remains a formidable challenger. The 2026 season has already proven to be a fierce contest, and the São Paulo GP will be a key early test for both teams as they fine‑tune their cars for the remainder of the calendar. The tight corners and high‑speed straights of Interlagos demand both power and precision, making the qualifying order a strong indicator of who might dominate the race.

Source: Motorsport Week