Championship leaders Norris and Piastri are now closely followed by Verstappen heading into the season's final races.
Sao Paulo: Lando Norris clinched victory at the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix, but much of the spotlight fell on the 'Flying Dutchman', aka Max Verstappen’s remarkable charge from the pit lane and Kimi Antonelli’s standout rookie performance. The São Paulo weekend also featured several dramatic crashes, making it one of the season’s most eventful races.
Verstappen’s pit lane podium heroics
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Max Verstappen delivered a sensational drive after a troubled qualifying forced him to start from the pit lane—a rare feat in Formula 1. Despite an early puncture and a last-minute power unit change, Verstappen steadily climbed the order and surged into the lead after the second round of pit stops. Red Bull made a strategic late stop for soft tyres, allowing Verstappen to attack, eventually overtaking George Russell and chasing Antonelli. He finished on the podium in third, just 0.362 seconds from second place, and his performance earned him Driver of the Day honours.
Antonelli’s career-best and resilient race
Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli had his best weekend to date, qualifying on the front row for both the sprint and the Grand Prix, and converting his opportunities to finish a career-best second. Antonelli showcased pace and composure, especially while fending off Verstappen’s late charge using expert racecraft and battery management. Despite a collision with Oscar Piastri that damaged his car, Antonelli escaped major issues to secure another podium, a new rookie points record, and critical championship momentum.
The 'unlucky' GP for Ferrari
The 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix proved to be a forgettable weekend for Ferrari, marred by unrelenting misfortune and costly incidents. From the outset, the Scuderia struggled as Charles Leclerc was forced to retire on lap six after being hit by Kimi Antonelli, a collision triggered by chaos at the Safety Car restart involving Oscar Piastri and Antonelli. This early setback drastically curtailed Ferrari's hopes for points in São Paulo.
Lewis Hamilton's race only added to Ferrari's woes. After an initial collision with Franco Colapinto on the first lap, Hamilton's car suffered considerable floor damage and a broken front wing. Despite persevering for 37 laps, the damage was too severe to continue, forcing Hamilton's retirement midway through the race. His frustration was evident, describing the event as a "nightmare" weekend for the team, compounded by a five-second penalty for causing a collision. The pair of retirements meant Ferrari left Interlagos empty-handed, a stunning contrast to the strong performances of rivals McLaren, Mercedes, and Red Bull.
Top three points after the Brazil Grand Prix
The championship battle tightened following Interlagos. After the Brazilian GP, the points for the top three drivers stood as follows:
- Lando Norris (McLaren): 390 points
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren): 366 points
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull): 341 points
Norris now leads by 24 points over Piastri, with Verstappen a further 25 behind, setting up a thrilling final trio of races in the 2025 Formula One season.
Published: 10 Nov 2025, 08:31 am IST
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