Norris believed he could have taken pole for Sunday’s 71-lap main event, but for a McLaren strategy blunder in Friday’s rain-hit qualifying session.

However, the young Briton made amends by delivering the quickest time for Saturday’s 24-lap dash to the chequered flag.

Lando Norris (L) took pole position for Saturday’s sprint race ahead of Max Verstappen (R)

Norris beat Verstappen to top spot by 0.061 seconds in Interlagos with Sergio Perez third

Norris, who is seeking his first win in Formula One, said: ‘It felt like one of the worst laps I have done so I am a little bit surprised to be on pole.

‘But I feel like we have made up for yesterday. I have no idea how the sprint will go, but the pace has been good this weekend and the car has been quick.’

Perez was a tenth back from Norris, while Russell finished 0.235 sec behind, with Hamilton 0.318 sec adrift.

Yuki Tsunoda qualified sixth ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Daniel Ricciardo.

Q1 ended early after Esteban Ocon crashed out following a collision with Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.

Ocon was on a hot lap, but briefly lost control of his Alpine though the left-hander at Turn 3, and thumped into Alonso.

The Spaniard was off the racing line, affording space for Ocon, but the Frenchman clipped Alonso’s Aston Martin which sent him into the tyre barrier at Curva do Sol.

‘F****** idiot, Fernando,’ said Ocon after he sustained significant damage to the rear of his machine.

Q1 ended early after Esteban Ocon crashed out following a collision with Fernando Alonso

Alonso limped back to the pits with front suspension damage leaving his mechanics scrambling to get his machine ready for Q2.

A 28-minute delay followed as the barrier was repaired but Alonso was unable to continue. He will start 15th.

The double world champion’s team-mate Lance Stroll qualified an impressive third for Sunday’s grand prix. But the Canadian will line up three places from the back for Saturday’s sprint which gets under way at 3:30pm local time (6:30 pm GMT).