Günther Steiner celebrates – Magnussen on pole

Before the clock ran out, Kevin Magnussen climbed onto his car in the Haas pit, pounded on the chassis and let his crew celebrate. Under the gray sky of São Paulo, the Dane completely surprisingly secured the best starting position for the last sprint race of the Formula 1 year. In the capricious Brazilian weather, Magnussen was able to avoid being displaced from the front due to an interruption following an accident involving Mercedes driver George Russell. The 30-year-old set the fastest time under strange conditions on a still dry track, which his competitors were no longer able to counter after the involuntary break and the onset of rain.

A slip by Russell into the gravel trap in dry conditions caused an interruption after just under four minutes in the decisive round. As the rain then poured down, the other drivers were no longer able to improve their times - and Magnussen remained in front. “You’re kidding,” the Dane said over the radio before he came into the pits. “The team brought me out at exactly the right time. It’s unbelievable.”

George Russell signaled the incredible with his failure. © ANSA / Sebastiao Moreira

Sergio Perez couldn't be beaten in the opening training session - even if it was extremely close. In the one-hour session, the Mexican beat Charles Leclerc in the Ferrari to second place by just 1 seconds with a time of 11,853:0,004 minutes. Perez' teammate Max Verstappen, who was already world champion, was only 0,008 seconds short of the lead in third place. And that despite the Dutchman complaining about the balance of the car.

Max Verstappen will be the first pursuer tomorrow. © APA/afp / NELSON ALMEIDA

“It will be crucial that you go out at the right time,” said Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Helmut Marko before the hunt and spoke of “difficult conditions”. Leclerc and Carlos Sainz experienced this in their own Ferrari pits. Like the competition, they wanted to switch from all-weather tires to soft rubber in the first knockout round - but the right ones weren't available. Slapstick at the Scuderia.

Haas, on the other hand, was thrilled. “Magnussen took advantage of the opportunity, got out first and completed a flawless lap,” said Red Bull’s motorsport advisor Marko, praising the competition’s coup. At the end of the TV broadcast, Günther Steiner joyfully ran through the garage and hugged his mechanics. Tomorrow at 20.30:XNUMX p.m. things will get serious again in the sprint race in Brazil.

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Günther Steiner celebrates – Magnussen on pole

Verstappen? Leclerc? Hamilton? No! Günther Steiner's protégé Kevin Magnussen takes first place in Brazil's qualification. The circumstances were extremely strange.

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