F1: Surprise! Kevin Magnussen leads the sprint sprint

You can follow the Brazilian Grand Prix on RDS and RDS.ca In our multicast environment on Saturday at 2 p.m.

Denmark’s Kevin Magnussen (Haas) will start the qualifying sprint race for the Brazilian Formula 1 Grand Prix on Saturday, after setting the fastest qualifying time on Friday.

Magnussen, who signs his first place in his first F1 position, will start ahead of Dutchman Max Verstappen, who has already confirmed his drivers’ world champion title this season, for the third and final sprint of the year.

“I don’t know what to say, the team put me in a perfect position, I got a very good lap and we are in pole position, it’s unbelievable! The reaction of Pullman, who also offered Haas the first place in its history.

The 30-year-old Scandinavian, who took the lead shortly after the start of the last qualifying session (third quarter), took advantage of the interruption of Britain’s George Russell (Mercedes) to hold on to his position.

In fact, it was time to secure the track before the single seat took it back, the rain came on Interlagos, and didn’t allow the drivers to improve their times.

George Russell (Mercedes), who finished third in time before leaving the track, will start from this spot, ahead of compatriot Lando Norris (McLaren), fourth.

At the back, Mexican Sergio Perez (Red Bull) and Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) will start in ninth and tenth places, respectively.

With just five points in the championship, the two drivers are vying for runner-up ahead of Verstappen, confirming his second world title. Perez has 280 points and Leclerc has 275 points.

However, nothing has been decided yet as to who will start at the helm of Sunday’s Grand Prix, which will be decided during the qualifying sprint race, on Saturday at 4.30pm local time (7.30pm GMT).

The Brazilian Grand Prix is ​​the last of the season’s three races to offer sprint racing on Saturday, a format that opened last season and was already used this year at the Emilia-Romagna and Austria Grand Prix.

The aim of these races is to offer a three-day run with ‘normal’ qualifications, i.e. against the clock on Friday, which sets the starting order for Saturday’s 100km race, which in turn sets the grid for Sunday’s Grand Prix.

The races also offer championship, and extra points for the first eight.