The 2025 Sao Paulo Grand Prix took place at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace in Interlagos, Brazil, on November 9, following a sprint format weekend from November 7 to 9. This marked the 21st round of the 37-race season and the fifth sprint event. Weather played a role, with light rain during qualifying and a dry race, affecting tire choices on the 4.309km circuit known for its elevation changes and tight corners.
Practice on Friday saw Norris lead, followed by Piastri and Hülkenberg in the single 60-minute session. Sprint qualifying set Norris on pole, with Antonelli second and Piastri third. The sprint race on Saturday saw Norris win from pole, ahead of Antonelli and Russell, earning 8 points and extending his lead. Grand prix qualifying placed Norris on pole again, Piastri fourth, and Verstappen in the garage after a slow puncture in practice.
The event drew 120,000 fans, with Brazil’s passionate support evident in the orange McLaren sections. Tire allocation included C2 hard, C3 medium, and C4 soft compounds from Pirelli, a step harder than 2024.
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Qualifying and Sprint Results
Sprint qualifying eliminated Colapinto, Lawson, Tsunoda, Ocon, and Sainz in SQ1. SQ2 dropped Hamilton, Albon, Gasly, Bortoleto, and Bearman. SQ3 had Norris at 1:09.243, Antonelli 1:09.340, Piastri 1:09.428, Russell 1:09.495, and Alonso 1:09.496. Tsunoda and Sainz started from the pit lane due to parc fermé changes.
In the 24-lap sprint, Norris converted pole to win, leading by 4.5 seconds over Antonelli. Russell took third, Piastri fourth after a strategy call, and Alonso fifth. Verstappen finished sixth from sixth on the grid. Points went to Norris (8), Antonelli (7), Russell (6), Piastri (5), and Alonso (4). No retirements occurred.
Grand prix qualifying mirrored the sprint top five, with Norris on pole at 1:08.157, Antonelli 1:08.289, and Piastri 1:08.412. Verstappen qualified 17th but started from the pit lane after a gearbox change. The session saw light rain, prompting intermediate tire use for some.
What happened during the race
The 71-lap race started dry, with Norris holding the lead from Antonelli at Turn 1. Piastri, from fourth, clashed with Antonelli, causing Leclerc’s retirement and earning Piastri a 10-second penalty for causing a collision. Verstappen, from the pit lane, gained positions early, passing midfield cars like Stroll and Hülkenberg.
Norris built a 5-second lead by lap 10, pitting for mediums on lap 15 while leading. Antonelli followed suit, maintaining second. Verstappen pitted on lap 18, rejoining 15th but on fresher tires. By lap 25, he reached eighth, overtaking Albon and Gasly. Piastri, penalized, served on lap 30, dropping to 10th temporarily before recovering to fifth.
A safety car on lap 35, after Colapinto’s spin damaged Hamilton’s front wing, bunched the field. Norris pitted again for hards, rejoining with a 2-second lead. Verstappen, on mediums, gained three places during the stoppage, reaching fifth. Post-restart, Norris pulled away, crossing the line 12.3 seconds ahead of Antonelli.
Verstappen overtook Piastri on lap 50 for third, then Russell on lap 62 after a DRS battle. Piastri held fourth despite the penalty, with Alonso fifth. Hamilton retired on lap 45 from damage, and Leclerc was out early. No further retirements occurred. McLaren’s one-stop for Norris worked with tire management, while Red Bull’s two-stop for Verstappen allowed fresher rubber late. Mercedes maximized points with Antonelli’s podium.
How does the championship battle stand?
Norris’s seventh win of 2025 brought his tally to 390 points, 24 ahead of Piastri at 366. Verstappen sits third with 341, 49 behind Norris, with three races and one sprint left (Las Vegas, Qatar, Abu Dhabi). Antonelli’s second moved him to sixth at 152 points, closing on Hamilton at 162. McLaren already secured the constructors’ title in Mexico and now lead by 388 points over Mercedes at 398. Ferrari dropped to fourth at 362 after Leclerc’s DNF and Hamilton’s retirement. Red Bull holds third at 366. The midfield tightens, with Racing Bulls, Aston Martin, Haas, and Sauber within 20 points.
Norris matches Piastri’s win count at seven, having taken the lead in Mexico. Verstappen’s recovery keeps him in contention, needing 49 points from 74 available. Piastri’s penalty cost him 10 points, but McLaren’s team harmony remains, with no orders issued.
