Lewis Hamilton heaped the pressure on championship rival Nico Rosberg by claiming pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Hamilton has never won at Interlagos, but knows he must finish ahead of his Mercedes team-mate in Sunday’s race to take the title battle on to the final round of the season in Abu Dhabi.
And the 31-year-old Briton edged out Rosberg in a nail-biting qualifying session here on Saturday to secure what could prove to be a pivotal pole as he bids to keep his slim championship hopes alive.
Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen will line up in third with Max Verstappen of Red Bull fourth on the grid.