SAO PAULO:

Series leader continued his dominant run of form by claiming a dramatic late pole for McLaren after a series of shocks in Saturday's tense qualifying session for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

The 25-year-old Briton, who reclaimed the leadership of the drivers' world championship by winning in Mexico two weeks ago, reacted to late pressure after a messy opening Q3 lap with a stunning last run in the final seconds.

He clocked one minute and 9.511 seconds to outpace nearest rival Italian teenage rookie Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes by 0.174 seconds after Red Bull's four-time champion was eliminated in the first qualifying session and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari in Q2.

They qualified 16th and 13th respectively while McLaren team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri, who

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