Liam Lawson during qualifying for the Formula 1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil. Image: Mark Thompson/Getty Images
The Racing Bulls driver qualified fifth in Saturday’s rain-disrupted session but will move up two positions following penalties for George Russell and Charles Leclerc, putting him on the second row alongside Nico Hulkenberg.
Lawson is one of several drivers to benefit from the penalties, which have affected nearly a quarter of the 22-driver field, with pole-sitter Lando Norris the only driver set to start from the position he qualified in.
Russell qualified second but drops five places to seventh, promoting newly crowned world champion Kimi Antonelli alongside Norris on the front row.
Leclerc, meanwhile, falls from fourth to 14th following a 10-place penalty, allowing Lawson to claim third ahead of Hulkenberg, with Isack Hadjar and Oliver Bearman completing the top six.
Fernando Alonso, Alex Albon and Oscar Piastri complete the top 10 behind Russell, with the Australian gaining two spots despite failing to reach Q3 for the second consecutive race.
Further down the grid, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez will occupy the final three starting positions following extensive penalties for power unit changes.
Hamilton faces a 75-place grid penalty after further power unit changes, with the Ferrari driver having encountered a problem with an earlier new engine during final practice.
He will nevertheless start 20th, ahead of Verstappen and Perez, who received 30-place penalties apiece. Their positions at the back are determined by their qualifying order.
The grid remains provisional, with further changes possible before it is officially confirmed ahead of the race, which begins at 2pm local time on Sunday (4am AEDT Monday).
Provisional Sao Paulo Grand Prix starting grid:
1. Lando Norris (McLaren)
2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
3. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
4. Nico Hulkenberg (Audi)
5. Isack Hadjar (Red Bull)
6. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
7. George Russell* (Mercedes)
8. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
9. Alex Albon (Williams)
10. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
11. Rafael Camara (Haas)
12. Arvid Lindblad (Racing Bulls)
13. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
14. Charles Leclerc* (Ferrari)
15. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
16. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
17. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
18. Valtteri Bottas (Cadillac)
19. Gabriel Bortoleto (Audi)
20. Lewis Hamilton* (Ferrari)
21. Max Verstappen* (Red Bull)
22. Sergio Perez* (Cadillac)
* Penalty
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