F1 Brazilian Grand Prix: Winners and Losers from a Chaotic Race

Lando Norris controls a chaotic São Paulo Grand Prix

Lando Norris delivered McLaren’s standout performance at the São Paulo Grand Prix, converting pole position into his third victory of the campaign. The result reinforced Norris’s reputation as one of Formula 1’s strongest drivers in low-grip and changing conditions, particularly after a qualifying session shaped by difficult weather and uncertainty over Mercedes’ communication.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella highlighted Norris’s ability to identify the available grip and adjust quickly to the track. “He’s very sensitive in understanding how much grip is available and very, I would say, even complete as a driver,” Stella said. “It’s not the first time that when you have mixed variable conditions, he kind of is one of the fastest in finding the limit.”

Norris maintained control throughout the race and never appeared likely to surrender the lead. Max Verstappen’s challenge weakened after Red Bull switched to slick tyres and the car developed severe balance problems, although Norris’s advantage was not simply the result of Verstappen’s setback. When McLaren has given him a winning car, Norris has taken three victories in four opportunities, with Madrid the only exception after an unfortunate safety-car timing decision.

The weekend was almost perfect for Norris, though the podium celebration provided an awkward finale. He smashed a champagne bottle and became caught in the pyrotechnics, but no one was harmed.

Mercedes wins the championship despite Brazilian GP errors

Mercedes secured its ninth constructors’ crown and its first since the 2021 season, making the individual race result largely secondary for Toto Wolff and the team. In practice, newly crowned world champion Kimi Antonelli appeared to have the strongest package, with Mercedes showing impressive long-run pace.

Race day was considerably less polished. Antonelli spun while leading after encountering handling problems, while George Russell made an about-face at pit exit. Those mistakes cost Mercedes a chance to challenge more consistently for victory, but the team’s accumulated strength across the campaign was enough to deliver the championship.

Mercedes’ title confirms its sustained competitiveness over the season. Against that broader achievement, the errors in Brazil will be remembered as an isolated blemish rather than a defining failure.

Max Verstappen produces another Interlagos comeback

Max Verstappen completed his third consecutive Brazilian Grand Prix comeback from the rear of the grid by reaching the podium. Across those three races, the four-time world champion has gained a combined 51 positions, further cementing his record of remarkable recoveries at Interlagos.

Verstappen climbed from 21st and at one stage moved within nine seconds of Norris, raising the possibility of an extraordinary victory. That challenge ended after Red Bull fitted slick tyres and the car became difficult to control in fast corners.

“As soon as I switched to the slicks, I had an extreme amount of oversteer in the car in the high-speed corners, which made it super difficult to drive,” he said. “We need to understand if something broke on the car, some kind of aero loss or whatever, because this was not normal.”

Isack Hadjar also impressed in conditions Verstappen described as among the most difficult he had experienced. Hadjar’s willingness to consider alternative strategies could have helped Red Bull apply additional pressure to Norris. After allowing Verstappen through during the pursuit, the Frenchman even asked whether the positions could be restored if Verstappen failed to take the lead, underlining his assertive approach rather than a purely deferential role.

Ferrari struggles as Hamilton and Leclerc lose ground

Ferrari had a more difficult afternoon while attempting to recover from grid penalties affecting Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Hamilton produced an electric opening lap, moving from 20th to 11th by passing cars around the outside at Turn 1 and gaining further places on the run to Turn 4.

However, both Ferrari drivers began to fade on intermediate tyres as the track dried. Excessive rear-tyre wear appeared to compromise their pace. Hamilton later spun while joining the straight as heavy rain returned, shortly before he switched to intermediates, while Leclerc received a five-second penalty for a minor touch with Lawson.

Hamilton and Leclerc also fought briefly wheel-to-wheel, adding another layer to the relationship between the Ferrari teammates after the controversy at the previous race in Mexico. Although comments from Hamilton, Leclerc and team principal Fred Vasseur indicated that the matter had been resolved, their latest on-track battle means the situation will remain under scrutiny.

Lawson and Alonso provide midfield highlights

Liam Lawson was promoted to seventh after Leclerc’s penalty, strengthening his case in the ongoing battle to remain on the Formula 1 grid. Despite having twice as many points as his team-mate, Lawson’s future remains uncertain.

After a strong wet-weather qualifying session, Lawson made a rapid start and followed Antonelli past Norris through the Senna S to run second early in the race. His pace levelled off once the intermediate tyres reached their operating window, and rear-tyre overheating later caused him to drop back. Even so, he continued to show the aggression and resilience that could influence decisions by Red Bull and Racing Bulls.

“At the moment I’m just trying to enjoy driving the car because with everything else going on I don’t really know what else I’m meant to do.”

Fernando Alonso also benefited from the weather to reach Q3, which translated into eighth on the grid after Brazil’s collection of grid penalties. His race began badly when contact with Oliver Bearman at Turn 3 cost him six positions, but Alonso recovered through a forceful midfield drive. His pass around the outside of a fading Hamilton was one of the race’s most notable moves.

Alonso finished 12th without points, but Aston Martin showed enough pace to give him a competitive fight. “The car was phenomenal today,” he said. “I think it has been the most competitive race. We were running with the Ferraris at one point in the race, now with the Mercedes in the last few laps. With much we lose on the straights, that means that we could be nearly one second faster than them…”

Alpine exposes wet-weather weakness

Alpine’s disappointing second half of the season continued in Brazil. The team had been competing for fifth in the championship, but Racing Bulls has moved toward leading the midfield while Alpine has struggled to produce consecutive scoring weekends.

In São Paulo, Alpine was uncompetitive throughout the wet weekend, with its performance suggesting an aerodynamic weakness in rainy conditions. Pierre Gasly finished 14th, one place behind team-mate Franco Colapinto, and said the team needed to investigate its lack of grip.

“We have a lot to review especially with our performance in the wet this weekend as the grip was very poor on both the intermediates and the extreme wets.”

“After yesterday’s frustration in qualifying, we saw some odd things in the aerodynamic data with the car in the wet which I know we are going to take time to review and further understand.”

Cadillac’s Valtteri Bottas fails to start

Cadillac endured the most damaging weekend among the teams highlighted in the report. Seven days after Valtteri Bottas retired from the Mexico City Grand Prix following a suspension failure, he did not even take the start in Brazil.

A cross-threaded wheel nut on the grid prevented Cadillac from removing Bottas’s right-rear wheel. The mechanical issue left the team unable to send the car into the race.

Why This Matters

The São Paulo Grand Prix demonstrated how quickly changing weather can reshape Formula 1’s competitive order. Norris converted McLaren’s pace into victory, Verstappen recovered from the back of the field, and Mercedes clinched the constructors’ title despite losing control of the race through individual errors.

The event also exposed technical questions for Red Bull, Alpine and Ferrari. Red Bull must determine whether Verstappen’s unusual slick-tyre balance came from a setup problem, a component failure or aerodynamic damage. Alpine needs to understand its wet-weather aerodynamic data, while Ferrari’s tyre degradation and intra-team battles remain important issues after a difficult race.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who won the São Paulo Grand Prix?

Lando Norris won the race for McLaren, taking his third victory of the campaign.

How did Max Verstappen finish after starting 21st?

Max Verstappen recovered from 21st on the grid to finish on the podium. His charge slowed after switching to slick tyres because of severe oversteer in high-speed corners.

Which championship did Mercedes win in Brazil?

Mercedes secured its ninth constructors’ championship and its first since the 2021 season.