Chaos at the São Paulo Grand Prix: Norris Dominates, Ferrari Faces Setbacks, and Bortoleto’s Disappointment

The São Paulo Grand Prix, the 21st round of the 2025 Formula 1 season, unfolded at the iconic Autódromo José Carlos Pace in Interlagos on November 9. This thrilling race showcased the remarkable capabilities of Lando Norris, while also highlighting the struggles of several teams and drivers, including a disappointing weekend for Brazilian driver Gabriel Bortoleto.

Lando Norris Claims Victory

Lando Norris, driving for McLaren, emerged victorious, starting from pole position for the second consecutive race. He was closely followed by Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen, who completed the podium. Verstappen, despite starting from the pit lane, delivered an impressive performance that earned him the "Driver of the Day" title. He managed to gain 16 positions during the race, showcasing his skill and determination once again on the challenging São Paulo circuit.

Norris’s strong performance throughout the weekend included leading Free Practice 1 and securing victories in both races in Brazil, solidifying his lead in the championship. His teammate Oscar Piastri, however, faced another disappointing outing, receiving a 10-second penalty after making contact with Antonelli at Turn 1. This incident caused Antonelli to collide with a Ferrari, leading to both drivers’ retirements from the race.

Piastri’s struggles continued to affect his standing in the Drivers’ Championship, while Norris’s consistency propelled him further ahead. George Russell, Norris’s counterpart at Mercedes, finished in fourth place, while Yuki Tsunoda faced a similar fate to Piastri and was penalized for a collision with Lance Stroll, ultimately finishing in 17th place.

Kimi Antonelli’s Impressive Weekend

Kimi Antonelli had a standout weekend in São Paulo, achieving significant results across various sessions. He secured second place in the qualifying for the Sprint Race and continued to perform well in the main race, finishing on the podium. Antonelli’s performance was particularly noteworthy as he navigated the challenges of the circuit with skill and precision, proving himself as a formidable competitor in the field.

Interestingly, Verstappen’s failure to advance past Q1 in the qualifying session marked the first time in his career that he did not progress beyond the first qualifying round, due to an issue with his RB21. The qualifying session itself was one of the most competitive in Formula 1 history, with Norris and Nico Hulkenberg separated by a mere 0.528 seconds for the pole position.

Gabriel Bortoleto’s Home Race Troubles

For Gabriel Bortoleto, the Brazilian driver, the weekend was fraught with difficulties. In the Sprint Race, he made a costly error on the final lap while attempting to overtake Alex Albon. With the Drag Reduction System (DRS) still open, he lost control of his car at a staggering 339 km/h, crashing into the barriers. The impact was severe, with the second collision recorded at 57G, surpassing Max Verstappen’s crash at Silverstone in 2021.

Due to the extensive damage to his car, the mechanics were unable to repair it in time for the GP qualifying, leaving Bortoleto to start from 18th place. His race day did not improve; during the opening lap of the main event, he attempted to navigate a tight space caused by Lance Stroll and ended up crashing again, prematurely ending his first Formula 1 race at home.

Performance Analysis of Other Teams

As the race unfolded, several teams demonstrated their strengths and weaknesses. Below is a summary of the performances of various teams that scored points at the Interlagos circuit.

Haas

Haas continued its streak of scoring points, a trend that began at the Singapore Grand Prix. Oliver Bearman stood out for the American team, finishing in sixth place, marking his second-best result in Formula 1. Unfortunately, Esteban Ocon’s performance did not match that of his teammate, as he failed to score points during the weekend.

Racing Bulls

The Visa Cash App RB team enjoyed a successful outing in Brazil, with both cars finishing in the top ten. Liam Lawson delivered a stellar performance, starting from third position and finishing seventh, while his teammate Isack Hadjar crossed the line in eighth place. This result provided much-needed relief for the Red Bull satellite team after a disappointing Sprint Race.

Kick Sauber

Another team that failed to score in the Sprint Race but managed to secure points in the main event was the Stake Kick Sauber team, thanks to Nico Hulkenberg. Following Bortoleto’s early exit from the race, Hulkenberg was the team’s sole representative and managed to finish in ninth place, contributing valuable points for the team.

Alpine

The BWT Alpine team finally broke a long-standing points drought that extended from the Hungarian Grand Prix to the Mexican Grand Prix. Pierre Gasly was instrumental in this resurgence, scoring points in both events in Brazil with an eighth-place finish in the Sprint and a tenth-place finish in the main race. In contrast, Franco Colapinto faced challenges as he failed to finish the Sprint Race and could only manage a fifteenth-place finish in the main event.

Aston Martin

Aston Martin Aramco had a mixed weekend, with Fernando Alonso’s sixth-place finish in the Sprint Race being the only highlight. His teammate, Lance Stroll, narrowly missed out on points, finishing in ninth. Overall, the team managed to recover from a disappointing outing in Mexico but still had room for improvement.

Ferrari’s Rollercoaster Ride

The Scuderia Ferrari HP team experienced a tumultuous weekend in Brazil, with moments of promise followed by significant setbacks. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton managed to score points in the Sprint Race, finishing fifth and seventh, respectively. However, the main race proved disastrous for the team. Hamilton was involved in an early incident with Colapinto, resulting in damage to his car and a subsequent retirement. Leclerc faced his own setback, suffering a suspension failure after being hit by Antonelli during a restart.

This double retirement was a significant blow to Ferrari, causing them to drop two positions in the Constructors’ Championship standings, falling from second to fourth. It marked the third time this season that the team finished a race without scoring points, a stark contrast to their strong performance in endurance racing.

Teams That Failed to Score Points

The only team that left Interlagos without any points was the Atlassian Williams Racing team, which continues to struggle in the competitive field.

Championship Standings

After the São Paulo Grand Prix, the Drivers’ Championship standings show Lando Norris leading with 390 points, followed closely by Oscar Piastri with 366 points. Max Verstappen remains in third place with 341 points. The Constructors’ Championship sees McLaren firmly in the lead with 756 points, followed by Mercedes-AMG Petronas and Oracle Red Bull Racing.

Looking Ahead

The next stop on the 2025 Formula 1 calendar is the Las Vegas Grand Prix, scheduled for November 22. As the season progresses, teams will be eager to refine their strategies and improve their performances in pursuit of championship points.

This thrilling race weekend in São Paulo provided fans with a blend of excitement, drama, and unexpected turns, showcasing the unpredictable nature of Formula 1 racing. As teams and drivers prepare for the challenges ahead, the competition remains fierce, and every point will count as the season approaches its climax.