Kevin Magnussen's shock Sao Paulo GP pole stuns grid as Haas teammate Schumacher takes last spot

It was not a Red Bull, Ferrari or Mercedes driver that went the fastest around the 4.309 km long Autódromo José Carlos Pace i.e. Interlagos Circuit in Qualifying yesterday. Instead, it was Haas' Kevin Magnussen that will take pole position in the final Sprint race of the season at the wet-dry qualifying session of the 2022 Brazil Grand Prix.

“I don’t know what to say. The team put me out on track at exactly the right moment. I mean we were first out in the pit lane, did a pretty decent lap. On pole, that is incredible. Thank you to Gene Haas, and Guenther [Steiner] and the whole team for this opportunity. I got back this year after a year out and it’s just been an amazing journey. So, thank you,” said Kevin Magnussen, Haas after the Qualifying.

Take a look at how the qualifying of the 2022 Brazil GP went down -

2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Qualifying 1

It was McLaren's Lando Norris that was the fastest in Q1, setting a lap time of 1:13.106, followed by Lewis Hamilton in second. Fernando Alonso was behind the Mercedes driver, with Sebastian Vettel in fourth and Sergio Perez in fifth. Meanwhile Nicholas Latifi, Zhou Guanyu, Valtteri Bottas, Yuki Tsunoda and Mick Schumacher were eliminated in the first qualifying.

2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Qualifying 2

Max Verstappen led the second qualifying, finishing with a time of 1:10.881, meanwhile Sainz was the runner-up, 0.009s off the Red Bull. His teammate Charles Leclerc was another 0.060s off in P3. Compatriots George Russell and Lando Norris took fourth and fifth respectively. Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo and Lance Stroll did not make it to Q3.

2022 Sao Paulo Grand Prix Qualifying 3

Setting a lap time of 1m 11.674s, it was Magnussen that took provisional pole with eight minutes and 10 seconds on the clock, Verstappen 0.203s behind. “You’re kidding,” said Magnussen when he was told of his provisional position. “Don’t celebrate yet!” he implored. The Dane ended up securing his first ever pole position, with Verstappen in second.

George Russell takes P3 in the sprint race tonight, ahead of Lando Norris in P4 and Carlos Sainz in P5. Esteban Ocon takes the sixth position, with his teammate Fernando Alonso right behind him in 7th. Lewis Hamilton, Sergio Perez and Charles Leclerc take P8, P9 and P10 respectively.

Do note that the Sprint race tonight will set the grid for the main race on Sunday. Stay tuned to TOI Auto for the 2022 Sao Paulo (Brazil) Grand Prix race report.Discover everything about the automotive world at Times of India.