Lando Norris’s Title Hopes Dim as Verstappen Stuns from 17th

Lando Norris’s slim title hopes took a crushing blow at the São Paulo Grand Prix where Max Verstappen delivered a drive for the ages. Starting 17th, the Red Bull driver stormed through wet, chaotic conditions to claim what he called “definitely the best” of his 62 career wins. Christian Horner, his team principal, hailed it as one of F1’s all-time great wet-weather performances.

Norris, who had secured pole in challenging conditions, briefly looked to capitalize but ultimately finished sixth after strategy calls and race conditions worked against him. Both he and team boss Andrea Stella defended McLaren’s decision to pit for fresh tires under the virtual safety car (VSC), calling it the safest option with the team’s priority on the constructors’ title.

“It was the right time to box,” Lando Norris said, though he admitted it was frustrating to lose out due to the rule allowing tire changes under red flags. Verstappen’s electrifying start saw him climb six places on the opening lap and he soon began picking off competitors. As rain intensified, his decision to stay out on worn tires proved wise with a red flag granting a ‘free’ tire change.

After passing Alpine’s Esteban Ocon on the final restart, he pulled away to win and extend his championship lead to 62 points, needing only a 60-point margin to clinch the title in the next race. Alpine’s Ocon and Pierre Gasly delivered an unexpected two-three finish, a highlight in a tough season.

Childhood friends with a storied past, Ocon and Gasly shared a rare moment of unity, reminiscing about their early karting days in challenging conditions that mirrored their success in São Paulo.