Circuit: Autódromo José Carlos Pace, São Paulo
The 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos delivered high-octane drama across three days of racing action, culminating in Lando Norris’s dominant victory that extended his championship lead.
Sprint Race Drama (November 8, 2025)
The weekend’s chaos began early in the Sprint Race, where Lando Norris converted Sprint pole into victory after surviving late pressure from Kimi Antonelli. The 24-lap sprint featured multiple dramatic incidents that would set the tone for the weekend.
Triple Crash Red Flag
An early red flag was flown during the sprint following a shocking moment which saw three drivers crash at the same corner within seconds of each other, including Oscar Piastri. The Australian’s championship hopes took a significant blow as he crashed out on Lap 6 at Turn 3, along with Franco Colapinto and Nico Hulkenberg.
Bortoleto’s Terrifying Sprint Finale
Home hero Gabriel Bortoleto’s weekend turned nightmarish when he crashed heavily at Turn 1 on the final lap of the sprint race at Interlagos while battling Williams driver Alex Albon for 10th place. The Sauber driver lost control of the car at 339 kilometers per hour and car sensors recorded a G-force impact of 34G on the first hit and 57G on the second.
Despite the violent 91G combined impact, Bortoleto walked away unharmed, though the damage meant he would miss qualifying and start Sunday’s race from the back of the grid.
Sprint Race Results
- Lando Norris (McLaren)
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- George Russell (Mercedes)
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
Qualifying Shocks (November 9, 2025)
Saturday’s qualifying session produced the biggest headline of the weekend when championship contender Max Verstappen suffered a stunning Q1 elimination.
Norris Claims Pole, Verstappen Stunned
Lando Norris claimed pole position for the São Paulo Grand Prix following a stunning final lap in qualifying in Interlagos, setting a 1:09.511 to claim pole in Brazil ahead of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli. It was a qualifying session of huge shocks as Lewis Hamilton qualified in 13th while both Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda were eliminated in Q1.
Verstappen’s Q1 exit marked his worst qualifying result since 2021, and Red Bull’s decision to make significant setup changes between Sprint and qualifying had backfired spectacularly. He would start the main race from the pit lane after parc fermé violations.
Qualifying Top 10
- Lando Norris – 1:09.511
- Kimi Antonelli – 1:09.685
- Charles Leclerc – 1:09.805
- Oscar Piastri – 1:09.886
- Isack Hadjar – 1:09.931
- George Russell – 1:09.942
- Liam Lawson – 1:09.962
- Oliver Bearman – 1:09.977
- Pierre Gasly – 1:10.002
- Nico Hulkenberg – 1:10.039
Main Race: Norris’s Perfect Weekend (November 10, 2025)
The main event delivered intense racing action from lights out, with multiple safety car periods and several retirements shaping the outcome.
Opening Lap Chaos
The race began with immediate drama as Gabriel Bortoleto crashed on the opening lap, bringing out the first safety car. Lewis Hamilton ran into Alpine’s Franco Colapinto at the end of lap one, requiring a new front wing and incurring an additional five-second penalty for causing a collision.
Leclerc’s Heartbreak
The most significant incident occurred on Lap 6 during the restart. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri locked up in Turn 1 as he attacked Kimi Antonelli in his Mercedes, leading to a collision between the duo that sent Antonelli into Leclerc on his outside, with the rear of the W16 hitting the front-left of the SF-25, dislodging the tyre and breaking the wishbone, sending the Monégasque into immediate retirement.
Ferrari’s nightmare continued as Hamilton later retired mid-race due to additional damage from his earlier collision.
Verstappen’s Remarkable Recovery
Starting from the pit lane, Max Verstappen delivered a masterclass in overtaking and race management. Verstappen finished on the podium despite starting from the pit lane, showcasing his championship pedigree with a stunning drive through the field to P3.
Norris’s Dominant Victory
Lando Norris completed the perfect weekend by claiming victory in the São Paulo Grand Prix, finishing 10.3 seconds ahead of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli. The British driver was flawless across all sessions, taking pole for both Sprint and main qualifying, winning the Sprint, and dominating the Grand Prix.
Final Race Results – 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix
| Position | Driver | Team | Time/Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | Winner |
| 2 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | +10.388s |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +10.750s |
| 4 | George Russell | Mercedes | +15.267s |
| 5 | Oscar Piastri* | McLaren | +15.749s |
| 6 | Oliver Bearman | Haas | +29.630s |
| 7 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | +52.642s |
| 8 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | +52.873s |
| 9 | Nico Hulkenberg | Sauber | +53.324s |
| 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | +53.914s |
*Piastri received time penalties during the race
Did Not Finish:
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) – Collision damage
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) – Collision damage
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) – Opening lap crash
Championship Implications
Lando Norris leads the drivers championship by 24 points from Oscar Piastri after the Brazilian Grand Prix. Norris’s perfect weekend extended his advantage over teammate Piastri, while Verstappen’s remarkable recovery from the pit lane kept him in mathematical contention despite being 64 points behind with three races remaining.
Drivers’ Championship Standings (after 21/24 races)
- Lando Norris – 390 points
- Oscar Piastri – 366 points
- Max Verstappen – 341 points
- George Russell – 276 points
- Charles Leclerc – 214 points
Constructors’ Championship
- McLaren – 756 points
- Mercedes – 398 points
- Ferrari – 366 points
- Red Bull – 362 points
Key Talking Points
1. Norris’s Championship Masterclass
Lando Norris demonstrated why he’s the championship leader with a flawless performance across all three days. His qualifying pace, race craft, and tire management were impeccable.
2. Verstappen’s Pit Lane to Podium Heroics
Despite starting from the pit lane due to setup changes, Verstappen carved through the field with vintage overtakes. His recovery to third place reminded everyone why he’s a three-time world champion.
3. Ferrari’s Nightmare Weekend
Both Ferrari drivers failed to finish, with Leclerc taken out through no fault of his own and Hamilton suffering from early-race contact. The Scuderia’s constructors’ championship hopes took a massive hit.
4. Bortoleto’s Resilience
The Brazilian rookie showed immense courage, walking away from a 91G crash in the Sprint and still attempting to race on Sunday, even starting from the back of the grid.
5. Antonelli’s Best Result
Kimi Antonelli secured his best F1 result to date with second place, demonstrating strong pace throughout the weekend and fighting off Verstappen’s late charge.
Circuit: Autódromo José Carlos Pace – Interlagos
Location: São Paulo, Brazil
Circuit Length: 4.309 km (2.677 miles)
Race Distance: 71 laps (305.909 km)
Sprint Distance: 24 laps
Lap Record: 1:10.540 (Valtteri Bottas, 2018)
What’s Next?
The F1 circus now heads to the final three races of the 2025 season with the championship battle intensifying. Norris holds a commanding lead, but with 78 points still available, the title fight remains mathematically open.
Next Race – Round 22 | Date: Nov 21 – Nov 23 | Track: Las Vegas Street Circuit
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