Norris Dominates Tricky São Paulo Sprint
Lando Norris delivered a commanding performance at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace, winning the São Paulo Grand Prix sprint race from pole position and significantly strengthening his position in the drivers' championship. The British driver led from start to finish in challenging conditions that saw several competitors fall victim to the damp track.
Costly Error Ends Piastri's Challenge
The race proved particularly costly for Norris's McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, whose championship aspirations suffered another major blow. The Australian qualified third but crashed out on lap six after catching the kerb with his left-front tyre at turn two exit, spinning into the barriers. The incident marked Piastri's third retirement from a sprint race this season and continues a difficult run of form that has seen him drop behind Norris in the standings.
The same corner proved treacherous for other drivers, with Nico Hülkenberg and Franco Colapinto both going off at the same spot shortly after Piastri's accident. The race was red-flagged on lap seven to allow for the recovery of the stranded cars, forcing the McLaren team into a race against time to repair Piastri's car before qualifying.
Norris Extends Championship Advantage
Norris's victory extends his lead over Piastri to nine points in the championship battle, while Red Bull's Max Verstappen dropped further back after managing only fourth place. The Dutch driver now trails Norris by 39 points, with 108 points still available from the remaining four meetings, including another sprint race in Qatar.
Mercedes showed improved form with Kimi Antonelli taking second place and George Russell completing the podium in third. Lewis Hamilton produced a strong recovery drive for Ferrari, climbing from 11th on the grid to finish seventh, while his teammate Charles Leclerc took fifth.
The race concluded under yellow flags after a dramatic final-lap crash for local driver Gabriel Bortoleto. The São Paulo native lost control at turn entry and speared into the inside barriers before being launched across the track into the opposite barrier in a heavy impact. Bortoleto emerged from the car and was taken to the medical centre for evaluation.
Norris's victory marks his third sprint race win, adding to his successes in Brazil last year and Miami earlier this season. The result continues an impressive run of form for the British driver, who appears to have fully adapted to a car he initially struggled with early in the season.
