McLaren driver Lando Norris extended his lead in the F1 drivers’ championship after winning a chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix, with his main rival and teammate Oscar Piastri again failing to make the podium.
Norris, who also won the sprint race and started from pole position, earned his first win at Interlagos with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen second and third, respectively.
Reigning world champion Verstappen pulled off an impressive drive around the São Paulo circuit, starting his race from the pitlane and finishing on the podium- only the eighth time in history a driver had managed to do so.
Kiwi Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson finished in seventh place, maintaining his position from qualifying and holding off his teammate Isack Hadjar on a difficult one-stop strategy.
Lawson was one of only two drivers on the grid to commit to the one-stop, nursing his 52-lap-old medium tires to the checkered flag. The seventh-place finish marked his first top 10 finish in four races.
Speaking to media after the race, Lawson said it had been a "very good weekend".
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"We had to make something work after the first couple of stops. It’s always tough when you’re the second car because obviously the first car gets priority.
"I lost a couple of spots in the first stop and I would have lost more in the second one so we went for the one-stop and it just worked."
The finish lifts Lawson to 14th in the drivers’ standings on 36 points.
It wasn't a successful day for all members of the Red Bull family. Yuki Tsunoda, Lawson’s main rival for a 2026 seat, ended up 17th and last of the remaining runners after being found at fault for a collision and handed two 10-second penalties.
Ferrari endured a miserable afternoon with both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton failing to finish the race.
Norris’ victory moves him to 390 points in the standings, while Oscar Piastri’s fifth place keeps him 24 points adrift with three races remaining.
Norris win marked his seventh of the season- the same amount as Piastri. Asked after the race how he managed to bounce back in the championship, Norris replied: “Just ignore everyone who talked crap about you.”
He added, “Still a long way to go (in the drivers' championship), this could change so quickly.”
- With Associated Press
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