Norris Dominates Wet São Paulo Grand Prix from Pole as Mercedes Clinches Constructors' Title
With Kimi Antonelli already the Drivers' Champion, Mercedes secured the Constructors' title at Interlagos, while Max Verstappen strengthened his second-place standing.
The story
Lando Norris delivered a commanding performance at the São Paulo Grand Prix yesterday, navigating the wet-dry-wet conditions at Autódromo José Carlos Pace to claim victory from pole position. Max Verstappen staged a remarkable comeback, climbing from 21st on the grid to secure second place for Red Bull.
His teammate Isack Hadjar completed the podium, ensuring a double celebration for Red Bull. Early in the race, Kimi Antonelli initially seized the lead from Norris into Turn 1, but a spin at the same corner on Lap 20 allowed the McLaren driver to take control.
Liam Lawson also impressed with a strong start, moving up to second through Turn 2. Lewis Hamilton, in his 400th Formula 1 start, climbed from 20th to ninth on the opening lap before a spin on the climb from Turn 12 later in the race.
Charles Leclerc received a five-second post-race penalty for causing a collision with Liam Lawson at Turn 12 on the penultimate lap, dropping him to eighth. George Russell finished fourth for Mercedes, despite a pitlane spin, contributing to Mercedes clinching the Constructors' Championship.
On the podium
| Position | Driver | Team | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren | Winner |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | +14.602s |
| 3 | Isack Hadjar | Red Bull | +24.485s |
Key moments
Start. Kimi Antonelli took the lead from pole-sitter Lando Norris into Turn 1, with Liam Lawson also making a strong move to second.
Lap 20. Kimi Antonelli spun at Turn 1, allowing Lando Norris to seize the lead of the race.
Lap 38. Max Verstappen, charging from 21st, overtook his teammate Isack Hadjar into Turn 1 to move into second place.
Late Race. Lewis Hamilton spun on the climb up the hill from Turn 12, though he managed to recover and continue.
Penultimate Lap. Charles Leclerc made contact with Liam Lawson at Turn 12 during an overtake, resulting in a post-race five-second penalty for Leclerc.
Championship
| Pos | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes | 390 |
| 2 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull | 279 |
| 3 | George Russell | Mercedes | 262 |
| 4 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari | 261 |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari | 251 |
Next race
Formula 1 now heads to the United States for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, scheduled for November 19-21. This race is known for its Saturday night spectacle under the lights of the Las Vegas Strip Circuit.
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