Lando Norris won the Formula 1 Sao Paulo Grand Prix for McLaren, finishing ahead of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar with Red Bull. Mercedes secured the Constructors’ Championship thanks to George Russell and Kimi Antonelli both finishing in the top five.
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Slightly wet track conditions
The entire field started the race on intermediate tyres, with pole-sitter Lando Norris immediately dropping back to third behind Kimi Antonelli and Liam Lawson. Lewis Hamilton made an impressive start, climbing from twentieth to ninth on the opening lap.
Max Verstappen though, who had also started from the back of the grid, soon overtook the Briton. The seven-time World Champion complained about his rear tyres and quickly began to drop down the order. Norris reclaimed second place from Lawson, before George Russell, Isack Hadjar and Verstappen also passed the New Zealander.
Mercedes drivers struggle
After his first pit stop, Russell spun at the pit lane exit and briefly got stuck in the narrow exit area, allowing both Hadjar and Verstappen to overtake him. With ideal line having dried out, all drivers switched to soft tyres.
Antonelli then performed a somewhat bizarre spin at the end of the home straight, suggesting that he was experiencing problems with his car. Norris moved into the lead, while Hadjar climbed to second. Following another similar mistake by Antonelli, Verstappen also moved ahead of the Mercedes driver. On lap 38, Red Bull instructed Hadjar to let his teammate through.
Rain hits the circuit
After the second round of pit stops for softs, Norris maintained his lead and comfortably stayed ahead of the Red Bulls. Rain began to fall on lap 59, forcing drivers to switch back to intermediates. Russell was quicker than his teammate at this stage, and Antonelli allowed him through, giving the Briton fourth place.
Norris clinches victory
Norris secured victory in Brazil with an advantage of almost 15 seconds. Verstappen and Hadjar completed the podium, followed by Russell and Antonelli in fourth and fifth. Their results also confirmed Mercedes’ Constructors’ Championship title. Oscar Piastri, Charles Leclerc, Lawson, Hamilton and Nico Hülkenberg completed the points-scoring positions.
The full results of the race according to FIA.com:
