Lando Norris believes colder weather predicted for the São Paulo Grand Prix could play into Mercedes' hands, despite McLaren's pole position. Mercedes cars have historically thrived in lower temperatures, posing a significant challenge to Norris's championship aspirations even from the front of the grid.
Lando Norris stunned in Sao Paulo Grand Prix qualifying, securing pole position with a "champion's lap" that left Martin Brundle in awe. Recovering from an early mistake, Norris outpaced rivals to claim the top spot, further extending his championship lead after winning the F1 Sprint. This performance highlights his growing prowess and McLaren's strong contention this season.
Red Bull faced a disastrous qualifying session at the São Paulo Grand Prix, with Max Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda both surprisingly eliminated in Q1. Helmut Marko confirmed an urgent team meeting to address significant performance losses across all sectors and the failure of their new floor. This unexpected setback for Verstappen's title hopes signals deeper issues that the team must quickly resolve ahead of the main race.
Interlagos organizers have cut a makeshift drainage channel into the Turn 3 kerbs using a concrete saw to prevent a repeat of Saturday's sprint race crashes, which saw multiple drivers, including Oscar Piastri, spin due to standing water. This unusual, rapid intervention aims to enhance safety and ensure water runoff, especially with unpredictable Brazilian weather, after the track's design allowed water to pool excessively.
Max Verstappen's championship hopes were severely dashed at the São Paulo Grand Prix after an aggressive move led to a brutal 57G crash, forcing his retirement. This incident leaves him 39 points behind championship leader Lando Norris with only four races remaining, making a comeback incredibly challenging and significantly impacting the title race.
Lewis Hamilton has called his Brazilian Grand Prix weekend "another write-off" after a difficult Saturday saw him finish seventh in the sprint and qualify 13th for Sunday's race. The seven-time champion, who has yet to score a podium with Ferrari, expressed deep frustration over his ongoing struggles, contrasting with teammate Charles Leclerc's stronger P3 qualifying result at Interlagos.
Lando Norris will start the 2025 F1 Brazilian Grand Prix from pole position, leading the pack ahead of Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli. Meanwhile, reigning champion Max Verstappen faces a significant challenge, starting from 16th after a rare Q1 exit. This sets up a potentially thrilling race with Norris aiming for victory and Verstappen embarking on a recovery drive through the field.
The Brazilian Grand Prix qualifying saw Lando Norris seize pole position and Max Verstappen suffer a shock Q1 exit, significantly impacting the championship battle. Racing Bulls and Charles Leclerc delivered strong performances, while Oscar Piastri, Lewis Hamilton, and George Russell faced challenges. The results set the stage for a dramatic race with major implications for the title contenders.
Liam Lawson attributes a sudden 'loose' car condition at Turn 1 during his final São Paulo qualifying lap to losing crucial time and grid positions, despite a strong double Q3 showing for his Racing Bulls team. He expressed frustration over the unexpected issue but acknowledged the team's overall positive result. Looking to the race, Lawson is unsure of his car's race pace due to earlier sprint race damage.
Lewis Hamilton expressed deep disappointment after qualifying 13th for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, marking his second consecutive qualifying struggle at Interlagos. He attributed the poor performance to rear tire issues, stating his weekend was "pretty much done." Meanwhile, teammate Charles Leclerc impressively recovered from a difficult Q2 to secure third on the grid, highlighting Ferrari's inconsistent performance and its impact on the Constructors' Championship battle with Mercedes.
Gabriel Bortoleto expressed immense relief after walking away unscathed from a terrifying 57G airborne crash during the São Paulo Sprint race. Despite his car being completely wrecked and making substantial impact, the driver sustained no serious injuries, attributing his escape to sheer luck. The incident also highlighted his Stake F1 team's heroic, yet ultimately unsuccessful, efforts to repair his car within a mere three hours for the subsequent qualifying session.
Max Verstappen and Red Bull suffered their worst qualifying in 17 years at the Sao Paulo GP, with both cars eliminated in Q1. Verstappen, starting 16th, expressed confusion over the car's poor performance, while team principal Laurent Mekies admitted aggressive setup changes had backfired. This major setback significantly hampers Verstappen's push for a fifth consecutive drivers' title against championship leader Lando Norris.
