Brazilian Grand Prix F1 starting grid as Albon ruled out

After a delayed, frenetic Sunday morning qualifying session, there's a very unusual grid for Formula 1's 2024 Brazilian Grand Prix.

Title chaser Lando Norris will start from pole position, sharing the front row with the Mercedes of George Russell.

Yuki Tsunoda has his highest-ever grid slot in third, ahead of Esteban Ocon's Alpine - P4 marking his best starting place of an otherwise tricky 2024 season.

Liam Lawson also has a personal best starting spot of fifth, ahead of the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.

Alex Albon was due to start seventh but he won't start the race after his qualifying crash. Williams did not have the time to carry out the repairs.

His grid slot will be left empty meaning Oscar Piastri will still start eighth (as the seventh car on the grid) ahead of the Aston Martin duo of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll.

Both Astons sustained crashes in qualifying, leaving the team with two repair jobs to hastily complete before the race.

Valtteri Bottas's Sauber will start from the 11th grid slot ahead of Sergio Perez's Red Bull.

Carlos Sainz's Ferrari - another driver who caused one of the five red flags in qualifying - will start from the pitlane.

Pierre Gasly lines up 13th in his Alpine ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Ollie Bearman.

F1 points leader Max Verstappen qualified 12th but has to serve a five-place grid penalty that drops him to 17th. He'll still be 17th despite Sainz's pitlane start. Though he has already effectively gained a place with Albon leaving grid spot 7 vacant.

Behind him, Franco Colapinto - with his Williams also needing repairs after a qualifying shunt - Nico Hulkenberg and Zhou Guanyu complete the grid.

Provisional Brazilian GP starting gridLando NorrisGeorge RussellYuki TsunodaEsteban OconLiam LawsonCharles LeclercAlex Albon (DNS*)Oscar PiastriFernando AlonsoLance StrollValtteri BottasSergio PerezPierre GaslyLewis HamiltonOllie BearmanFranco ColapintoMax Verstappen**Nico HulkenbergZhou Guanyu

Pitlane: Carlos Sainz***
*Albon not taking start, P7 grid slot to stay empty
**Five-place grid penalty for engine change
*** Pitlane start for new engine components