Norris Dominates Sao Paulo GP, Ferrari Suffers Double DNF
Lando Norris secured another commanding victory at the 2025 Sao Paulo Grand Prix, extending his impressive season. While Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli showed promising pace to finish second, Ferrari endured a disastrous race with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton retiring, further complicating their championship hopes.
Why it matters:
McLaren and Lando Norris are firmly establishing themselves as consistent frontrunners, putting significant pressure on rivals. Conversely, Ferrari's ongoing reliability issues and unexpected DNFs in a crucial phase of the season raise serious questions about their championship challenge and internal stability, especially with two high-profile retirements.
The details:
- Norris's Victory: Lando Norris drove a flawless race to secure first place, demonstrating McLaren's strong performance capabilities.
- Mercedes' Podium: Kimi Antonelli delivered a strong performance for Mercedes, finishing second and showcasing the team's potential.
- Verstappen's Fight: Max Verstappen secured a third-place finish, battling closely with Antonelli for position.
- Ferrari's Disaster: Both Ferrari drivers, Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, retired from the race due to mechanical issues, marking a significant setback for the Scuderia. Leclerc's race ended on lap 5, while Hamilton retired on lap 37.
- Midfield Standouts: Oliver Bearman of Haas F1 Team had an impressive run, finishing sixth and scoring valuable points. Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar also delivered for Racing Bulls, finishing seventh and eighth respectively.
- Points Scorers: Nico Hulkenberg (Kick Sauber) and Pierre Gasly (Alpine) rounded out the top 10, each securing a point.
By the numbers:
| Pos. | No. | Driver | Team | Laps | Time / Retired | Pts. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Lando Norris | McLaren | 71 | 1:32:01.596 | 25 |
| 2 | 12 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 71 | +10.388s | 18 |
| 3 | 1 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull Racing | 71 | +10.750s | 15 |
| 4 | 63 | George Russell | Mercedes | 71 | +15.267s | 12 |
| 5 | 81 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren | 71 | +15.749s | 10 |
| 6 | 87 | Oliver Bearman | Haas F1 Team | 71 | +29.630s | 8 |
| 7 | 30 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls | 71 | +52.642s | 6 |
| 8 | 6 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls | 71 | +52.873s | 4 |
| 9 | 27 | Nico Hulkenberg | Kick Sauber | 71 | +53.324s | 2 |
| 10 | 10 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine | 71 | +53.914s | 1 |
| NC | 44 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 37 | DNF | 0 |
| NC | 16 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 5 | DNF | 0 |
What's next:
McLaren's consistent performance, spearheaded by Norris, positions them strongly for the remainder of the season. Ferrari will be under immense pressure to address their reliability issues before the next race to salvage their championship ambitions. The battle between McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull appears to be intensifying, with every point becoming critical as the season progresses.
Original Article :https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2025-brazilian-grand-prix-sao-paulo-interlagos-rac...