Lando Norris converted pole position into a commanding victory at the São Paulo Grand Prix, extending his championship lead with a measured drive as Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen completed the podium after a dramatic race in Brazil.
Strong Start Sets the Tone
When the lights went out, Norris launched perfectly to lead ahead of Antonelli, Charles Leclerc, and Oscar Piastri. Early chaos struck when Gabriel Bortoleto clipped the barriers, triggering a Safety Car. Lewis Hamilton also suffered damage in contact with Carlos Sainz and Franco Colapinto, forcing him into the pits for a new front wing.
Early Drama and Virtual Safety Car
At the lap-six restart, Piastri dived inside Antonelli at Turn 1, but space ran out as Leclerc was boxed in. The McLaren driver locked up, tagging the Mercedes, which ricocheted into Leclerc’s Ferrari. Leclerc lost a wheel moments later, prompting a Virtual Safety Car. Verstappen, who had climbed to 13th by then, suffered a slow puncture and dropped back after an early stop.
Norris Controls the Pace
Once racing resumed, Norris steadily pulled away while Piastri, under investigation for the earlier contact, received a 10-second penalty. The British driver maintained composure up front as Verstappen carved through the midfield, capitalising on pit sequences and tyre strategy to recover.
Verstappen’s Recovery Drive
Switching to Mediums mid-race, Verstappen’s relentless pace carried him into the top five. When Norris pitted for Softs, the Dutchman briefly took the lead before being repassed as McLaren’s superior pace showed. A late-race Soft-tyre charge saw Verstappen overtake George Russell to grab a hard-earned podium behind Antonelli.
Midfield Battles and Final Classification
Russell finished fourth ahead of the penalised Piastri, with Haas’ Ollie Bearman again impressing in sixth. Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar fought wheel-to-wheel for seventh and eighth, while Nico Hülkenberg and Pierre Gasly completed the points.
Power and Performance Highlights
Norris’ McLaren showed consistent race pace, managing tyre degradation while maintaining a strong top-end advantage on the straights. Verstappen’s recovery demonstrated Red Bull’s efficiency in traffic, while Antonelli’s composure under pressure confirmed Mercedes’ growing competitiveness.
Championship Standings and Outlook
Norris now leads Piastri by 24 points with three rounds remaining. Verstappen sits 49 points adrift, while Ferrari’s double DNF drops them to fourth in the Constructors’ table behind Mercedes and Red Bull. The battle for both titles remains finely poised heading into the final stretch of the 2025 season.
| Pos | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 5 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 6 | Oliver Bearman | Haas |
| 7 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls |
| 9 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| 11 | Alexander Albon | Williams |
| 12 | Esteban Ocon | Haas |
| 13 | Carlos Sainz | Williams |
| 14 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| 15 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine |
| 16 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| 17 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull |
| 18 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 19 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 20 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber |
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