Norris wins São Paulo Sprint to extend F1 championship lead

Lando Norris has extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship with a hard-fought victory in the São Paulo Grand Prix Sprint at Interlagos, holding off a relentless challenge from Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli in a dramatic 24-lap dash that featured multiple incidents, a red flag, and a late crash for home favourite Gabriel Bortoleto.

Norris Holds Firm Under Pressure

Starting from pole, Norris made the most of the damp-but-drying conditions to lead into Turn 1, immediately breaking DRS to Antonelli in the opening laps. The McLaren driver’s pace on the soft tyres after the mid-race restart was strong, but tyre degradation and gusting winds brought Antonelli back into contention in the closing stages. Despite the Mercedes driver closing to within four tenths, Norris kept his composure to take the chequered flag by just 0.845s.

The win gives Norris the maximum eight points from the Sprint, opening up a nine-point gap over team-mate Oscar Piastri in the standings. Max Verstappen, who finished fourth, now sits 39 points behind the leader.

Antonelli Impresses Again

Antonelli’s P2 finish continues his remarkable rookie campaign. The Italian teenager showed maturity beyond his years, managing medium tyres well and keeping the pressure on Norris without overstepping the limit. His battle with George Russell in the early laps was decisive, allowing him to focus on the McLaren ahead. Russell completed the podium in third, giving Mercedes a strong points haul in their fight with Ferrari for second in the Constructors’ Championship.

Verstappen and Leclerc Make Gains

Verstappen recovered from a sixth-place start to finish fourth, passing Fernando Alonso early and keeping Russell in sight. Charles Leclerc, meanwhile, endured a frustrating stint stuck behind Alonso before finally making the move in the closing laps to secure fifth. Alonso held on for sixth ahead of Lewis Hamilton, while Pierre Gasly snatched the final point in eighth after overtaking Lance Stroll late on.

Chaos on Lap 6: Piastri, Colapinto, and Hulkenberg Crash

The Sprint’s defining moment came on Lap 6 when Piastri clipped a wet kerb and spun into the barriers. As water was dragged across the track, Nico Hulkenberg and Franco Colapinto also lost control at the same corner, both hitting the wall. The incident brought out the red flag, with Piastri and Colapinto retiring on the spot. Hulkenberg limped back to the pits, and Kick Sauber’s mechanics performed a rapid repair job to get him back out for the restart.

The crashes have major implications for the Championship fight — Piastri’s DNF means he loses ground to Norris, turning a potential three-point deficit into nine.

Late Drama: Bortoleto’s Heavy Impact

Local hero Gabriel Bortoleto was involved in a high-speed incident in the final laps. Attempting a move on Alex Albon in a DRS train, he ventured onto the damp part of the track, lost control, and slammed into the barriers before sliding across the circuit. Albon narrowly avoided contact but picked up debris under his Williams. Bortoleto was unharmed, but his Kick Sauber will require extensive repairs before qualifying.

Tyre Strategies and Conditions

The Sprint began with a mix of soft and medium compounds among the front-runners, reflecting uncertainty over tyre life on the drying track. Norris switched from mediums to softs during the red flag, while Mercedes opted for mediums to the end. The cooler track temperatures (29.2°C) and light winds made grip management critical, with several drivers reporting rear tyre wear in the closing stages.

Championship Impact

Drivers’ Standings: Norris leads Piastri by 9 points, Verstappen is 39 points adrift.
Constructors’ Standings: Mercedes’ double podium strengthens their bid to overtake Ferrari for P2.
Midfield Battle: Gasly’s point lifts Alpine morale, while Aston Martin’s double top-10 finish keeps them in the fight with Racing Bulls.

Final Sprint Classification

Lando Norris – McLaren
Kimi Antonelli – Mercedes
George Russell – Mercedes
Max Verstappen – Red Bull Racing
Charles Leclerc – Ferrari
Fernando Alonso – Aston Martin
Lewis Hamilton – Ferrari
Pierre Gasly – Alpine
Lance Stroll – Aston Martin
Isack Hadjar – Racing Bulls

Key Takeaways

Norris maximised points and extended his Championship lead.
Antonelli continues to impress with racecraft and composure.
Piastri’s crash could be a turning point in the title fight.
Bortoleto’s late accident adds to Kick Sauber’s repair list ahead of qualifying.
Mercedes look poised to challenge Ferrari in the Constructors’ battle.

The São Paulo Sprint delivered high drama and strategic intrigue — and with qualifying still to come, the weekend at Interlagos is far from over.