Lando Norris Wins Sao Paulo Grand Prix to Extend Championship Lead
McLaren driver Lando Norris claimed victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday, extending his Formula One championship lead to 24 points. His teammate, Oscar Piastri, faced a setback after receiving a penalty for causing a collision.
Mercedes’ young star Kimi Antonelli finished a remarkable second, earning his best result yet. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen impressed everyone by finishing third for Red Bull after starting from the pit lane.
Verstappen’s comeback was especially stunning. He suffered a slow puncture early in the race and dropped to 18th, yet fought back fiercely to reach the podium.
Norris Celebrates Win as Piastri Faces Penalty
“It was a crazy race,” said Norris after his seventh victory of the season. “I don’t think we were the fastest, but I’m thrilled to take this win.” He added that Verstappen’s speed showed McLaren still has areas to improve.
Piastri, who began fourth on the grid, collided with Antonelli and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc early in the race. As a result, he received a 10-second penalty and finished fifth. The incident marked another tough weekend for the Australian after crashing in the sprint race on Saturday.
George Russell secured fourth for Mercedes, strengthening their hold on second in the constructors’ standings. With three races and a sprint left, Norris leads with 390 points. Piastri follows at 366, while Verstappen sits third with 341.
Behind them, rookie Oliver Bearman finished sixth for Haas, continuing his strong form. Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar, Nico Hulkenberg, and Pierre Gasly completed the top ten in a thrilling Brazilian showdown.
