Verstappen on pole after 'insane' Sao Paulo qualifying

SAO PAULO :Red Bull's triple Formula One world champion Max Verstappen beat the weather as well as his rivals to secure pole position for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix in a qualifying session halted by "insane" conditions at Interlagos on Friday.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc joined Verstappen on the front row with the Aston Martins of Lance Stroll and Fernando Alonso third and fourth.

Verstappen was quick out of the pits as storm clouds loomed, getting a flying lap in to secure provisional pole before gusting winds, rain and flashes of lightning halted the track action.

"We didn’t know when it would hit in qualifying, we thought it would hit. This is of course insane weather," said the 26-year-old, who secured his third title in Qatar last month and now has 11 poles for the season.

Verstappen will be chasing his record-extending 17th win of the season on Sunday and 52nd of his career.

"It was all quite hectic in the last lap."

McLaren's Australian rookie Oscar Piastri had already skidded off onto the grass, triggering yellow flags.

Verstappen wasted no time when the pitlane opened for the final time, the Dutch driver speeding past the Mercedes of last year's winner George Russell before they had even reached the track.

Leclerc, who had been on pole for the two previous races, was 0.294 slower.

"In my own career I have never experienced something like that. From Turn Four onwards there was no rain but the car was extremely difficult to drive, no grip," said the Monegasque.

"I was thinking about just coming in at the end of the lap but then I finished and then P2. So it's a really good surprise. It's a very weird one for everyone out on track today."

Stroll, who will be starting in the top three for only the fourth time in his career, said