Formula 1 News: Norris wins, Verstappen last to 3rd in Sao Paulo GP

Lando Norris delivered a masterclass in control, cruising to a dominant victory at the 2025 Sao Paulo Grand Prix in his superior McLaren. But the real show-stealer was Max Verstappen, who started dead last from the pit lane, nursed an early puncture that forced an extra stop, and still sliced through the field to claim third at the iconic Interlagos circuit.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

This marked Norris’s seventh win of the season, extending his championship lead to a commanding 24 points. “I was pushing hard out there—an amazing race, and it’s fantastic to win in Brazil,” Norris beamed post-race. “This track is incredible, the fans are electric, and it was a perfect weekend all around. I just tune out the noise; the team has done an outstanding job, both on and off the track. Thrilled to bring home the win.”

Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli held firm for second, finishing 10.388 seconds adrift of Norris, with Verstappen nipping at his heels—just 0.362 seconds back—at the checkered flag. Despite the time loss, Verstappen’s recovery was nothing short of miraculous; without his qualifying woes and that untimely pit stop for fresh soft Pirellis, he might have challenged for the win.

“I don’t know where this guy came from, to be honest—I didn’t see him closing in,” Antonelli admitted with a grin. “The last few laps were intense with Max on fresher tires. I locked into my rhythm, upped the pace, and used the dirty air to my advantage. It paid off in the end.”

Verstappen, ever the fighter, reflected on the chaos: “The race was full-on. Our pace was strong, and to podium from the pit lane—especially with the puncture—was beyond expectations. We never give up. I pushed to overtake as quickly as possible, but those DRS trains made it tricky. Finishing just 10 seconds off the lead? That’s incredible.”

Behind the podium battle, Mercedes’ George Russell fended off McLaren’s Oscar Piastri for fourth, the pair crossing the line 15.267 and 15.749 seconds behind Norris, respectively. Piastri’s afternoon was marred by a 10-second penalty for early contact with Antonelli, which likely cost him a higher finish.

The race kicked off in frenetic fashion. Norris nailed the start from pole and maintained his lead through a chaotic opening stint. A Safety Car was promptly deployed after Kick Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto—competing in his home race—crashed into the barriers on Lap 1. The drama continued post-restart with a Virtual Safety Car triggered by Piastri’s lock-up, which clipped Antonelli and cascaded into Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, forcing the Monegasque to retire early with severe damage.

Verstappen’s redemption arc added layers of intrigue, as varying strategies unfolded amid the interruptions. The Red Bull driver overcame his puncture and methodically carved through the pack, turning a potential disaster into a podium highlight.

With the win, Norris surges to 390 points in the drivers’ standings, 24 clear of teammate Piastri (366) and 49 ahead of Verstappen (341). Brazil proved that Interlagos doesn’t need rain to deliver spectacle—strategic gambles, a Safety Car, a VSC, and daring passes from hungry drivers provided all the excitement.

While Verstappen dazzled with his drive and Antonelli hinted at his raw talent, this weekend belongs to Norris, whose consistency has forged a formidable gap over his championship rivals.

Further back, Haas’ Ollie Bearman enjoyed a solid run to sixth, capping a strong outing. Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar followed in seventh and eighth, padding their team’s tally despite a late brush between them that stewards deemed inconsequential. Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the top 10 for Kick Sauber in ninth, with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly snagging the final point in 10th.

Williams’ Alex Albon led the charge just outside the points in 11th, ahead of Haas’ Esteban Ocon and Williams’ Carlos Sainz. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll languished in 14th and 16th, split by Alpine’s Franco Colapinto in 15th. Red Bull’s Yuki Tsunoda was classified 17th after a penalty-riddled day, including a bungled 10-second stop that earned him another.

Ferrari endured a grim Sunday, departing pointless with double retirements: Leclerc on Lap 6 and Lewis Hamilton pitting out midway after floor damage from a Lap 1 tangle, compounded by his own 10-second penalty.

Three races and one Sprint remain, with 83 points up for grabs. Can Verstappen reel in Norris? It would likely demand a McLaren misfortune. For Piastri, the path is clearer but steep: sweeping the finale while Norris settles for runner-up spots would level the tally—but factor in the Sprint, and the math gets even tighter.

2025 Sao Paulo GP Race Results – 71 Laps