SAO PAULO, Brazil — Kevin Magnussen was all smiles as he exited the Formula 1 qualifying session after he clinched his first pole in the series Friday afternoon at Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace.
With a 1:11.674 lap time, the Haas F1 Team driver edged two-time world champion Max Verstappen’s Red Bull machine by two-tenths of a second to take the top spot in qualifying for the only U.S.-based team on the circuit. The two will start on the front row in the Sao Paulo Sprint on Saturday.
The sprint results will determine starting positions for Sunday’s Brazilian Grand Prix — the 21st event of the 22-race season.
Mercedes’ George Russell qualified third with a 1:12.059 lap time.
McLaren’s Lando Norris and Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz rounded out the top five.
Sainz will face a five-place grid penalty in the Grand Prix on Sunday for replacing the engine in his Ferrari. Meanwhile, Sainz’s teammate Charles Leclerc uncharacteristically ended qualifying in 10th. Though Verstappen has already secured the title with his Red Bull Racing team, the Ferrari drivers are hoping to end his three-race winning streak this weekend.