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

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 02: Lance Stroll of Canada and Aston Martin F1 Team walks in theSAO PAULO, BRAZIL - NOVEMBER 02: Lance Stroll of Canada and Aston Martin F1 Team walks in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Brazil at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace on November 02, 2023 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Clive Mason - Formula 1/Formula 1 via Getty Images)

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.

Starting Grid

FORMULA 1 ROLEX GRANDE PRÊMIO DE SÃO PAULO 2023

Pos.DriverTime
1Max VerstappenVER1:10.727
2Charles LeclercLEC1:11.021
3Lance StrollSTR1:11.344
4Fernando AlonsoALO1:11.387
5Lewis HamiltonHAM1:11.469
6Lando NorrisNOR1:11.987
7Carlos SainzSAI1:11.989
8George RussellRUS1:11.590
9Sergio PerezPER1:12.321
10Oscar PiastriPIA
View all standings

The 2023 Sao Paulo Grand Prix starts at 1400 local time. Be sure to join our live coverage from 1300 here.