Sawt Falasteen - Title-leader Norris grabs Sao Paulo Grand Prix pole

Kimi Antonelli, who was second in the sprint, was second again in qualifying for his first grand prix front-row start.

Oscar Piastri, who is battling his McLaren team-mate Norris for the title, was fourth, and will start next to Ferrari's Charles Leclerc on the second row.

Neither of the Red Bulls were fast enough to make the final session. Defending champion Max Verstappen will start in 16th.

Norris started the last session badly but found the lap he needed as time ran out to again edge teenage Italian rookie Antonelli.

"Tough conditions, slippery and inconsistent," said Norris. "I put it all together when it mattered."

Earlier Norris had extended his lead in the drivers' world championship to nine points, after Piastri crashed out of the sprint.

Norris edged Antonelli by eight-tenths of a second and earned eight points to lift him to 365 points in the title race ahead of Piastri on 356. Four-time champion Verstappen, who finished fourth, is on 326.

Norris was 0.845 seconds ahead of a feisty Antonelli at the chequered flag with George Russell third in the second Mercedes ahead of Verstappen, Leclerc and Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso.

L.Hussein--SF-PST