RACE REPORT | F1 São Paulo 2025

Lando Norris won the Brazilian Grand Prix after a calm and well-controlled race at Interlagos. Andrea Kimi Antonelli finished second, while Max Verstappen completed the podium in third place.

After a rainy and chaotic sprint on Saturday, Sunday’s main race was held in dry conditions. The track was ready for a full 71-lap contest, with Antonelli, Hadjar, Lawson, Bearman, and Gasly starting on soft tyres, while most others chose mediums.

Norris made a strong start and stayed ahead of Antonelli into Turn 1. Oscar Piastri held fourth, but Lewis Hamilton dropped five places after wheelspin off the line. Early on, Gabriel Bortoleto crashed into the barriers, bringing out a safety car. Hamilton also suffered front-wing damage after contact with Carlos Sainz and later an Alpine, forcing him to pit for repairs.

Racing resumed on lap 5, and Norris managed the restart perfectly to stay in front. Soon after, Antonelli and Charles Leclerc collided, ending Leclerc’s race. Verstappen began his recovery drive from further back, overtaking several cars in the opening laps. A brief virtual safety car was used to clear debris.

By lap 7, Verstappen had passed Hamilton, who was struggling with rear-end grip. George Russell moved up to fourth, while Bearman started to climb through the midfield. Yuki Tsunoda received a 10-second penalty for an earlier collision.

Around lap 13, Bearman overtook Liam Lawson for sixth. Verstappen continued to make progress and by lap 20 he was already up to sixth after several pit stops ahead. Hamilton had to pit again for balance issues, and Piastri received a 10-second penalty for contact earlier in the race.

Antonelli pitted on lap 21 for fresh tyres, rejoining in 11th. Verstappen moved to fourth as others stopped. Tsunoda’s penalty was later ruled as not properly served, and Hamilton was given another five-second penalty for contact with Colapinto.

By lap 30, Antonelli was up to fifth. Norris then pitted for soft tyres and rejoined in fourth, soon overtaking Verstappen again. Lap 34 saw Verstappen and Russell make stops, temporarily dropping down the order.

Verstappen climbed back to fourth by lap 43, while Antonelli pitted again on lap 48 and returned in sixth. As the final pit stops cycled through, Norris regained the lead, followed by Antonelli and Verstappen.

By lap 53, the top order was Norris, Antonelli, Verstappen, Russell, Piastri, Bearman, and Lawson. Verstappen stopped for softs on lap 55 and rejoined in fourth, closing in quickly on Antonelli.

In the closing laps, Verstappen overtook Russell to take third, but Antonelli held firm for second. Norris managed his tyres and pace perfectly to secure a confident win.

Race results:

1st – Lando Norris (McLaren)
2nd – Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +10.388
3rd – Max Verstappen (Red Bull) +10.750
4th – George Russell (Mercedes) +15.267
5th – Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +15.749
6th – Oliver Bearman (Haas) +29.630
7th – Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) +52.642
8th – Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) +52.873
9th – Nico Hülkenberg (Kick Sauber) +53.324
10th – Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +53.914
11th – Alexander Albon (Williams) +54.184
12th – Esteban Ocon (Haas) +54.696
13th – Carlos Sainz (Williams) +55.420
14th – Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +55.766
15th – Franco Colapinto (Alpine) +57.777
16th – Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) +58.247
17th – Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) +1:09.176

DNF – Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
DNF – Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
DNF – Gabriel Bortoleto (Kick Sauber)