OFFICIAL GRID: Will Aston Martin’s second row lock-out give Stroll and Alonso podium shot?

The arrival of a huge storm midway through Q3 on Friday in Sao Paulo meant drivers got just one lap to determine their place in the grid’s top 10. Some timed it right and some didn’t, with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso firmly in the former camp, securing P3 and P4 respectively.

They line up with pole-sitter Max Verstappen in the Red Bull and the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc ahead. Immediately behind are Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and McLaren’s Lando Norris. Then come Carlos Sainz for Ferrari and the penalised George Russell for Mercedes, with Red Bull’s Sergio Perez and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri completing the first five rows.

READ MORE: Verstappen seals pole ahead of Leclerc and Stroll as rain brings early end to Sao Paulo qualifying

Russell was penalised two grid places for driving unnecessarily slowly while exiting the pit lane during qualifying, as were the Alpines of Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly, who start 14th and 15th respectively.

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