Norris Dominates Interlagos, Verstappen Charges from Pitlane to Podium in Thrilling 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix

The 2025 Formula 1 season served up another classic at the iconic Interlagos circuit, with McLaren’s Lando Norris securing a dominant victory at the São Paulo Grand Prix. The win extends his championship lead in a weekend packed with drama, including a stunning comeback from Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and a controversial collision that hampered Norris’s main title rival, Oscar Piastri. (1, 2)

Lando Norris described his weekend in Brazil as « perfect, » and it’s hard to argue. After winning the F1 Sprint on Saturday, he converted his pole position into a commanding race victory on Sunday, his seventh of the season. (3) Starting on the medium compound tyres, Norris expertly managed the race from the front, controlling the pace and weathering an early safety car period to finish a comfortable 10 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor. The victory significantly bolsters his campaign for a maiden World Championship, putting him in a strong position with just three races remaining. (4)

While Norris enjoyed a smooth ride at the front, the race behind him was anything but calm. The biggest story was the incredible recovery drive from Max Verstappen. Following a decision by Red Bull to break parc fermé regulations for setup changes, the reigning champion was forced to start the race from the pit lane. 5 Despite this major setback, Verstappen delivered a masterful performance. He scythed his way through the field, demonstrating the improved pace of his car. Aided by a well-timed pitstop during a Virtual Safety Car period and a switch to a three-stop strategy, he was the fastest man on track for large portions of the race. In the closing stages, he overtook Mercedes’ George Russell for third place and was rapidly closing in on second before running out of laps, completing a truly astonishing drive from the pit lane to the podium. (4)

« The race was full on with a lot of action, our pace was strong and to be on the podium, I did not expect that. I am proud of everyone, » Verstappen commented after his remarkable comeback. (1)

The race was also marked by several significant incidents. A lap-six restart saw a dramatic three-wide battle into Turn 1 between Oscar Piastri, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, and Charles Leclerc. Piastri, attempting a move on the inside, made contact with Antonelli, who was then pushed into the path of Leclerc’s Ferrari. The incident resulted in terminal damage for Leclerc and a race-wrecking 10-second penalty for Piastri, who was deemed « wholly responsible » for the collision. 2 4 This penalty effectively ended Piastri’s challenge for the win, and he could only recover to finish in fifth place, losing crucial ground to his teammate in the championship fight. The day went from bad to worse for Ferrari, as Lewis Hamilton also retired with suspected floor damage following an earlier clash with Franco Colapinto. (4)

Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli capitalized on the chaos to secure his best-ever F1 finish in second place, a stellar result for the young Italian. His teammate George Russell finished fourth, securing a strong points haul for Mercedes that helped them solidify their second position in the Constructors’ Championship over the struggling Ferrari. (4)

2025 Brazilian Grand Prix: Race Results

Position	Driver	Team	Time/Gap
1	Lando Norris	McLaren	1:32:01.596
2	Andrea Kimi Antonelli	Mercedes	+10.388s
3	Max Verstappen	Red Bull Racing	+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	+52.6s
8	Isack Hadjar	Racing Bulls	+52.8s
9	Nico Hulkenberg	Sauber	+53.3s
10	Pierre Gasly	Alpine	+53.9s

Note: Table shows top 10 finishers. DNF: Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber), Charles Leclerc (Ferrari), Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari). (2)

With this victory, Lando Norris extends his championship lead over Oscar Piastri to 24 points. Max Verstappen sits 49 points adrift, retaining a remote mathematical chance at the title. As the Formula 1 circus heads to the penultimate round in Las Vegas, all eyes will be on the McLaren teammates to see if Norris can seal the deal or if Piastri can fight back in the city of high stakes.(4)