Isack Hadjar: "We took a slightly cautious approach in Q1, but made it through comfortably and showed strong pace in Q2, where we were third fastest. I felt confident going into Q3 and believed we had a real opportunity to fight for a top-three position.

"We decided to go out towards the end of the session, but the rain got heavier and the track conditions became increasingly difficult. Being one of the last cars on track ultimately worked against us, as there was very little grip and much more aquaplaning than we had anticipated.

"It feels like a missed opportunity because the pace was there, but the car is still competitive and P5 gives us a solid starting position for tomorrow. Hopefully the conditions allow us to race, and we'll do everything we can to fight for a podium finish."

Max Verstappen: "We knew coming into today that Qualifying would be a little different for us given the grid penalty. Nevertheless, FP3 and Qualifying gave us a better understanding of the car and how to get it into the best possible window for tomorrow. Q1 went well and we were competitive, but with the amount of standing water on track and knowing we would be starting from the back, there was no reason to take unnecessary risks.

"Tomorrow will be a challenge. With overtake mode rather than DRS this year, making our way through the field might not be as straightforward as in previous seasons. But I'll do everything I can to move forward and score as many points as possible. We've come through difficult situations before, so let's see what we can do."

Laurent Mekies: "It's been a busy day here in São Paulo, with plenty of work going on behind the scenes. The Team made a number of changes overnight, and Max's performance in FP3 was an encouraging indication of the progress we had made. With the power unit change and the resulting grid penalty, we knew Qualifying would require a different approach for Max, particularly in the wet conditions. The focus was on learning as much as possible about the car while avoiding unnecessary risks in those tricky conditions.

"Isack secured P5 on the grid after the various penalties were applied, which gives him a solid starting position for tomorrow, although we know he was hoping for a little more after a very strong Q2. There is still work to do, but we now have a clearer understanding of where we stand and where we need to improve.

"Tomorrow will be a challenging race, particularly for Max starting from the back, but we know how unpredictable racing in Brazil can be. We will stay focused on ourselves, make the most of every opportunity and give both Max and Isack the best possible chance to move forward."