Lando Norris claimed his second consecutive São Paulo Sprint victory, strengthening his championship lead after team-mate Oscar Piastri crashed out in damp early conditions. The McLaren driver controlled the race from start to finish, while Kimi Antonelli and George Russell delivered a double podium for Mercedes ahead of Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen.
Strong Start for Norris
From pole position, Norris reacted perfectly when the lights went out, holding the lead into Turn 1. Behind him, Antonelli and Piastri followed closely, while Russell slotted into fourth. Verstappen, starting on Soft tyres, gained ground as Fernando Alonso struggled with traction, allowing the Red Bull driver to move up to fifth.
Early Drama in Damp Conditions
The race took a dramatic turn on lap six when Piastri ran wide over the inside kerb at Curva del Sol. With standing water collecting on the surface, his McLaren lost grip and spun into the barriers. Moments later, Nico Hülkenberg and Franco Colapinto made the same mistake, bringing out the Safety Car before red flags stopped the race entirely.
Restart and Pressure from Mercedes
After a 25-minute delay, the Sprint resumed behind the Safety Car with a rolling start. Norris maintained his composure at the front, keeping Antonelli at bay as the Mercedes rookie came under pressure from Russell. Verstappen, now on Medium tyres, began to struggle for grip, allowing Alonso to close in.
As Verstappen ran wide at Turn 1, Alonso attempted a pass into Turn 4, but the Dutchman defended firmly. The two battled for position before Verstappen settled into fourth, leaving the Mercedes pair to chase the McLaren leader.
Norris Controls the Race
Midway through the Sprint, Norris began to stretch his advantage, opening a 1.3-second gap to Antonelli. Behind them, Russell stayed within reach, ready to capitalize on any mistake. Norris reported rear tyre wear to his team, but despite the pressure, he managed his battery and pace expertly.
Antonelli closed to within DRS range by lap 20, but Norris held firm. His precise energy deployment and smooth lines through Interlagos’ technical sections made the difference, keeping the rookie behind.
Final Lap Incident Freezes the Order
On the final lap, local driver Gabriel Bortoleto crashed heavily at Turn 1 while attempting a DRS move on Alex Albon. The impact triggered double waved yellows, fr
| Pos | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 3 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 4 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 6 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| 7 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 8 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| 9 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| 10 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls |
| 11 | Esteban Ocon | Haas F1 Team |
| 12 | Oliver Bearman | Haas F1 Team |
| 13 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
| 14 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull Racing |
| 15 | Carlos Sainz | Williams |
| 16 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber |
| 17 | Alexander Albon | Williams |
| 18 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Kick Sauber |
| 19 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 20 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine |
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