McLaren’s Lando Norris converted pole position into a composed São Paulo Grand Prix victory, crossing the line 10 seconds ahead of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen put in another bravura display in Brazil, racing from a pit lane start to third place on the podium at the flag. Title contender Oscar Piastri finished the race in fifth after being handed a 10-second penalty for an early collision with Antonelli. 

When the lights went out at the start, Norris got away well to comfortably seize the lead ahead of Antonelli, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Piastri. 

After two laps the Safety Car was called into action when Gabriel Bortoleto hit the barriers after being squeezed wide by Lance Stroll. Ferrar’s Lewis Hamilton was also in trouble and after being clipped by Williams’ Carlos Sainz at the start he then clashed with Alpine’s Franco Colapinto and lost his front wing. 

There was more drama on the lap six restart. Fourth-placed Piastri went to overtake Antonelli on the inside into Turn 1. The Italian had Leclerc on the outside and with no room to move right he closed the gap Piastri was trying to exploit. The Australian locked up, hit the Mercedes, which was then bounced into Leclerc’s Ferrari.

Leclerc’s SF-25 lost a wheel and when he ground to a halt moments later the VSC was deployed. Verstappen had got to P13 by this point, but the Dutchman picked up a slow puncture and after switching from Hard tyres to Mediums under the VSC he dropped to the back of the field again. 

When racing resumed, Piastri, now in second, tried to put pressure on Norris but the Briton had more pace and soon began to eke out a gap. And when Piastri was handed a 10-second penalty for causing the collision with Antonelli, Norris looked even more comfortable. 

Further back, however, Verstappen was scything his way through the midfield and as the stints unfolded and soft-tyre starters pitted the Dutchman worked his way up to a remarkable fifth place. 

The Dutchman pitted for a second set of Mediums and continued his blistering pace. And when Norris took on a set of Softs in his first stop, Verstappen assumed the lead. Norris’  pace on the red-banded tyres was too much, however, and he soon passed the Dutchman to retake the lead. 

Verstappen wasn’t done, however, and late in the race he opted to bolt on a new set of Soft tyres, drop down the order and then make a charge for the flag. He dismissed Mercedes’ George Russell into Turn 1 on lap 63 of 71 to claim a podium place and then set off after Antonelli. The four-time champion pushed the Italian rookie hard but as Norris cruised to his seventh win of the season, Antonelli kept his cool to cross the line just a few tenths ahead of the Red Bull driver. 

Behind them Russell to fourth place ahead of Piastri, while Ollie Bearman put in another impressive performance to take sixth place for Haas'. Behind the Briton, Liam Lawson made a one-stop strategy work to take P7, though the Racing Bulls driver was pressured by team-mate Isack Hadjar, with the pair even banging wheels on the final lap. Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg finished ninth and Pierre Gasly took the final point for Alpine.

In the championship Norris now leads Piastri by 24 points with three rounds remaining, with Verstappen now 49 points adrift. Hamilton eventually retired from the race and the double DNF for Ferrari means they drop from P2 to P4 in the Constructors’ Championship standings. Mercedes are now second on 398 points with Red Bull Racing on 366, four ahead of the Italian team. 

2025 FIA Formula 1 São Paulo Grand Prix – Race 
1 Lando Norris McLaren/Mercedes 71 1:32'01.596 
2 Kimi Antonelli Mercedes 71 1:32'11.984 10.388
3 Max Verstappen Red Bull/Honda RBPT 71 1:32'12.346 10.750
4 George Russell Mercedes 71 1:32'16.863 15.267
5 Oscar Piastri McLaren/Mercedes 71 1:32'17.345 15.749
6 Oliver Bearman Haas/Ferrari 71 1:32'31.226 29.630
7 Liam Lawson Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 71 1:32'54.238 52.642
8 Isack Hadjar Racing Bulls/Honda RBPT 71 1:32'54.469 52.873
9 Nico Hülkenberg Sauber/Ferrari 71 1:32'54.920 53.324
10 Pierre Gasly Alpine/Renault 71 1:32'55.510 53.914
11 Alexander Albon Williams/Mercedes 71 1:32'55.780 54.184
12 Esteban Ocon Haas/Ferrari 71 1:32'56.292 54.696
13 Carlos Sainz Williams/Mercedes 71 1:32'57.016 55.420
14 Fernando Alonso Aston Martin/Mercedes 71 1:32'57.362 55.766
15 Franco Colapinto Alpine/Renault 71 1:32'59.373 57.777
16 Lance Stroll Aston Martin/Mercedes 71 1:32'59.843 58.247
17 Yuki Tsunoda Red Bull/Honda RBPT 71 1:33'10.772 1'09.176
     Lewis Hamilton Ferrari 37 51'02.289 Accident damage
     Charles Leclerc Ferrari 5 8'48.420 Accident
     Gabriel Bortoleto Sauber/Ferrari 0 - Accident