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Carlos Sainz blasts Brazil sprint qualifying after SQ1 exit: "Worst execution I have seen in my life"

Carlos Sainz lamented a poorly executed sprint qualifying session in Brazil, which resulted in a P20 start for the sprint race tomorrow.

After being eliminated in SQ1, the Williams driver exclaimed over the team radio, "This is the worst execution I have seen in my life." 

"Yeah, we just simply didn't do a good quali," Sainz explained after the session. "I mean, first run was quite messy with traffic and problem with getting the tyres up to temperature.

"But then the second run, we managed to make our life even more difficult and we almost didn't put two laps in. So, yeah, in general, just I go out of this quali without knowing what was the limit or the performance of the car because we didn't even do two laps."

The Spanish driver missed the media day due to illness, but confirmed that his health, while it was not 100%, was not a factor.

"Physically, obviously, not 100%, but pace in FP1 shows that I could have done a fast lap today if needed. But we managed to put ourselves in a position to never complete a fast lap. So it's impossible to know what we could have done."

Carlos Sainz, Williams (Photo by: Steven Tee / LAT Images via Getty Images)

Saturday is expected to see rain showers in the morning with scattered thunderstorms arriving in the afternoon. Wind could also be a factor for the drivers in the sprint race and grand prix qualifying, with WNW winds anticipated to be between 15 and 25 mph.

McLaren's Lando Norris secured pole position for the sprint and is joined by Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli on the front row in second. Norris's team-mate Oscar Piastri took third on the starting grid with George Russell in fourth.

Sainz currently sits 11th in the drivers' standings with 38 points and just four rounds remaining of the 2025 season.

Photos from Sao Paulo GP - Practice & Sprint QU

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Nico Hulkenberg, Sauber

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Liam Lawson, Racing Bulls Team

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Isack Hadjar, Racing Bulls Team

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Esteban Ocon, Haas F1 Team

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Alexander Albon, Williams

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Gabriel Bortoleto, Sauber

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Oliver Bearman, Haas F1 Team

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Sebastian Vettel arrives in the Paddock

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Laurent Mekies, Red Bull Racing

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Alexander Albon, Williams

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Fans hold up signs in support of Scuderia Ferrari in the fan zone.

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Carlos Sainz, Williams

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Alexander Albon, Williams

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren, Alexander Albon, Williams

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Pierre Gasly, Alpine

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Franco Colapinto, Alpine

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Racing, Fernando Alonso, Aston Martin Racing

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Charles Leclerc, Ferrari, Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes, Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull Racing Team

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

George Russell, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren, Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Lando Norris, McLaren

Sao Paulo GP - Friday, in photos

Formula 1
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