Lando Norris moved closer to clinching the world championship with an impressive victory at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, while teammate Oscar Piastri’s title bid suffered a setback after a 10-second penalty relegated him to fifth place.
At Interlagos, Norris dominated the race, crossing the finish line 10.3 seconds ahead of runner-up Kimi Antonelli. Max Verstappen amazed fans with a remarkable recovery drive from nearly last on the grid to secure third place.
With this result, Norris now holds a 24-point lead over Piastri in the championship standings. Verstappen trails by 49 points, with only 83 points available in the final three races of the season.
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George Russell finished fourth, narrowly holding off Piastri, while Lewis Hamilton’s weekend ended early due to a collision with Franco Colapinto on the first lap, forcing him to retire with damage.
Earlier in the season, Norris appeared out of contention after his car failed in Zandvoort, leaving him 34 points behind Piastri. However, an impressive 58-point swing over six races has thrust Norris back into the driver’s seat, with upcoming rounds in Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi offering a limited number of points.
Norris now finds himself in a strong position: even if Piastri wins the final three races and the sprint in Qatar, Norris can still claim the title by finishing second in those events.
Norris demonstrated his championship resolve once again in Sao Paulo. After securing pole position in qualifying and winning the sprint race on Saturday, he delivered a flawless performance under pressure on Sunday. He fended off Antonelli at the start and maintained control through the tense safety-car restart following Gabriel Bortoleto’s crash.
Piastri, who started fourth, was involved in a collision with Antonelli that caused Antonelli to crash into Charles Leclerc, ending Leclerc’s race with suspension damage. Piastri received a 10-second penalty for leaving insufficient space, which he served during his pit stop, dropping him to eighth. Despite fighting back to fifth, the penalty significantly dented his championship hopes.
Verstappen, starting 16th due to a car overhaul including a new engine, faced long odds but displayed characteristic determination. Although forced to pit twice with a suspected puncture and tire strategy challenges, he gained positions rapidly, briefly leading the race on lap 51. He ultimately took third place, finishing just behind Antonelli and ahead of Piastri.
With only three races left, Norris holds a firm advantage in the title fight, but the battle remains intense with Piastri and Verstappen continuing to push hard.