Lando Norris (McLaren) delivered a commanding victory in the Sprint race of the Brazilian Grand Prix, leading from start to finish in an event marked by intermittent rain and two key retirements in the opening laps.
The Briton managed the intermediate tires to perfection and held off pressure from the Mercedes drivers to claim his fourth win of the season. George Russell (Mercedes) finished second, 3.2 seconds behind the winner, while teammate Lewis Hamilton completed the podium in third — securing Mercedes’ first double podium since the 2024 Japanese GP.
Key Moments:
Lap 1: Oscar Piastri (McLaren) lost control at Turn 4 after light contact with Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber). The Australian retired due to rear suspension damage.
Lap 2: Bortoleto, making his home debut, tried to regain positions but hit the barriers at the “Senna S” after locking up. The Safety Car neutralized the race for three laps.
Norris took advantage of the restart to build a five-second gap within just two laps, maintaining the lead all the way to the checkered flag.
Driver Reactions
Lando Norris: “A tricky race, but the car felt perfect in the wet. A shame for Oscar — without his retirement we could’ve fought for a 1–2 finish.”
George Russell: “Our pace in the final stint was strong. This podium feels like a reward after a tough weekend.”
Lewis Hamilton: “Interlagos is always special. Happy to be back on the podium here.”
McLaren extends its lead in the Constructors’ Championship, while Norris cuts eight points off Max Verstappen’s advantage after the Dutchman finished 5th.
