Dutchman Max Verstappen (Red Bull), his rival in the world championship with 19 points ahead of four races to go, will accompany him on the front row.
But nothing is decided for the starting grid of the Grand Prix on Sunday, which will be determined by the results of the sprint race on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m. French) but also by the five-place penalty imposed on Hamilton for an engine change in -beyond the authorized quota per season.
The Brazilian GP is the third and last in 2021 (after Great Britain in July and Italy in September) to offer a new format, with a qualifying sprint race on Saturday, the results of which determine Sunday's starting grid.
The classic qualifications, they fix the starting positions of this sprint race, of which the first three will also score points in the championship (from 3 for the first to 1 for the third).
Mercedes and Red Bull lieutenants Finnish Valtteri Bottas and Mexican Sergio Pérez inherit the second row, Frenchman Pierre Gasly (AlphaTauri) and Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari) third.
Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Briton Lando Norris (McLaren), Australian Daniel Ricciardo (McLaren) and Spaniard Fernando Alonso (Alpine) complete the Top 10, ahead of second Frenchman Esteban Ocon (Alpine), 11th .
© 2021 AFP