Edd Straw's 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix F1 Driver Rankings

Lando Norris delivered a flawless performance at the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix, securing two pole positions and two wins, extending his championship lead. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen staged a remarkable recovery to third from a pitlane start, and Kimi Antonelli impressed by outperforming his Mercedes teammate to claim second.

Why it matters:

This race significantly impacted the 2025 Formula 1 world championship, with Norris solidifying his lead through a dominant display. Verstappen's recovery drive showcased his relentless competitive spirit, while Antonelli's breakthrough performance signals a strong emergence in the sport, potentially altering the dynamic within Mercedes and the wider grid.

The details:

• Lando Norris (McLaren): Achieved a 'perfect weekend' with poles and wins in both the sprint and main race, navigating difficult grip conditions with complete control. This performance puts him 24 points ahead in the championship.
• Max Verstappen (Red Bull): Started 19th from the pitlane due to a risky setup in qualifying but fought back heroically to finish third in the main race. His performance fluctuated with the car's changing form throughout the weekend.
• Charles Leclerc (Ferrari): Showed stellar qualifying pace, securing third in challenging Q3 conditions. His race was unfortunately cut short by a multi-car collision involving Piastri and Antonelli.
• Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes): Had his best F1 weekend to date, consistently taking second place in all four on-track sessions and clearly outperforming teammate George Russell. He showed strong adaptability to the Interlagos track's inconsistent grip, though he contributed to the collision with Piastri.
• Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls): Outperformed his teammate Liam Lawson in the sprint, showing strong qualifying form and a well-executed race to finish eighth.
• Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls): Recovered from sprint qualifying struggles to deliver a strong one-stopper race drive, finishing seventh after effectively matching Hadjar in the main qualifying session.
• Pierre Gasly (Alpine): Felt re-energized by his Alpine, reaching SQ3 in the sprint and securing a point in both the sprint and main race, showcasing improved raceability.
• Alex Albon (Williams): Performed well in a car not suited to the track's longer corners, maintaining a points-contending pace despite picking up debris and a costly strategy call.
• Oliver Bearman (Haas): Had a good overall weekend, finishing sixth, which was likely the maximum for Haas. Despite some imperfections, including a sprint collision, his main race was strong.
• Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin): Excelled in the sprint, qualifying fifth and finishing sixth, but struggled to replicate that pace in the main race due to setup changes and track conditions.
• George Russell (Mercedes): Finished fourth, but admitted he was off pace and conclusively outshone by Antonelli throughout the weekend, struggling to find comfort with the grip.
• Carlos Sainz (Williams): Faced more struggles and bad luck than teammate Albon, particularly in the sprint and main qualifying, but managed to finish 13th despite damage.
• Esteban Ocon (Haas): Struggled with car balance in qualifying, leading to early exits, and was unlucky in the race with a puncture that ruined his points chances.
• Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber): Made Q3 in both sprint and main qualifying, but a sprint crash cost him an outside chance of points. He secured points in the main race with a one-stop strategy.
• Oscar Piastri (McLaren): Had a messy weekend with low-grip struggles, increasing the gap to Norris. A sprint crash and a penalty in the main race for a three-wide move at Turn 1 cost him a potential second place.
• Lance Stroll (Aston Martin): Qualified seventh in the sprint but lost a point to Gasly. His main race was compromised by a spin and the car's lack of pace on hard tires.
• Franco Colapinto (Alpine): Struggled to get to grips with the Alpine, crashing in the sprint and then struggling in the main race after a chassis change, finishing well off Gasly's pace.
• Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari): Endured another tough weekend at Interlagos, with Q2 exits and an early race-ending collision with Colapinto after earlier contact with Sainz.
• Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull): Described it as 'one of the worst weekends,' struggling with grip, early qualifying exits, and two penalties in the main race for a collision and pitlane infringement.
• Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber): Had a nightmare home Grand Prix with a heavy crash in the sprint that kept him out of main qualifying, and his race ended early in a Turn 10 collision with Stroll.

The big picture:

This Grand Prix provided a clear snapshot of the championship contenders, with Norris demonstrating elite control and Verstappen's damage limitation skills shining through. The rise of Kimi Antonelli at Mercedes adds another layer of intrigue, signaling a potential shift in team dynamics and a new face in the fight for top positions. The varied performances across the grid, from McLaren's dominance to Ferrari's bad luck and Red Bull's mixed fortunes, highlight the ever-present challenge of adapting to conditions and executing under pressure in Formula 1.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to the remaining races of the 2025 season, where Lando Norris will aim to maintain his championship lead. Teams will analyze their Brazilian GP performances to refine strategies and car setups for upcoming events. Antonelli's strong showing will undoubtedly put more pressure on George Russell and will be closely watched as the season progresses, potentially impacting future driver market decisions. Verstappen and Red Bull will be keen to iron out their qualifying issues to fully capitalize on their race pace, while Ferrari will look for better fortune to convert strong qualifying into race results.