Norris takes Sao Paulo win as champion Antonelli spins out
McLaren driver claims 14.6-second victory while Mercedes secures the constructors' title and Verstappen recovers from 21st to finish second.
By Beatriz Soto ·
Lando Norris finished 14.6 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen to win the Sao Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos. The gap marked a clear separation in a race defined by wet conditions and strategic errors from the leading contenders.
Kimi Antonelli, the reigning world champion, started from pole position after a strong qualifying session on a soaking track. However, his race unravelled after a stop for dry tyres. Antonelli reported that something weird was wrong with his Mercedes. He spun off at turn one and finished fifth, dropping to 11th on the grid for the race after an engine penalty forced George Russell to abort his final flying lap.
Max Verstappen executed a recovery drive from 21st on the grid. The Dutchman passed Lewis Hamilton at the exit of Curva da Juncao, where the two rivals battled for position. Verstappen then moved past Alex Albon and Isack Hadjar to secure second place. His team-mate Hadjar finished third, while Russell recovered from a spin in the pit-lane exit to take fourth.
Lewis Hamilton began his 400th Grand Prix start in 20th place after suffering engine issues on Saturday. He gained ground quickly, moving to ninth by the end of the first lap. Ferrari kept him on wet tyres until lap 15, a delay that cost him time as the track dried. He later spun down the main straight while pitting, clipping the barrier in the process.
Mercedes clinched the constructors' title with this result, following Antonelli's drivers' championship win the previous week. The team faced scrutiny after Russell accused them of costing him pole position. Antonelli was also flagged for investigation regarding an unsafe pit release on the final stint. He was instructed to let his team-mate Russell pass, a decision that reflected the team's focus on securing the team title.
The race featured multiple weather shifts that altered the strategic outlook for all teams. Norris, who took pole on Saturday, maintained his lead through the chaos. He passed Antonelli as the Italian struggled with tyre temperatures. The McLaren driver held the lead through two sets of stops, managing the changing conditions better than his rivals. The result gave Norris back-to-back victories in Sao Paulo.
Charles Leclerc started 14th due to a penalty. He traded positions with Hamilton on lap 10, taking the move as the Briton complained about his tyres. Leclerc later passed by Fernando Alonso in an Aston Martin. The Ferrari drivers held talks with boss Fred Vasseur to resolve their recent disagreements, concluding their issues were resolved before the race began.
