Lando Norris leads the São Paulo Formula 1 GP with ease this Sunday afternoon, November 9, 2025, at the Autódromo de Interlagos. The retirements of Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc and Gabriel Bortoleto occurred due to mechanical problems and incidents on the track, impacting the dynamics of the 21st stage of the season. The race, which started at 2pm Brasília, continues with 60 laps completed out of 71, under strong sun and an audience of 304 thousand people over the three days of the event.
The initial incidents involved contacts between drivers and car failures, leading to the safety car being brought in at the start. Hamilton, from Ferrari, faced damage to his nose after contact with Franco Colapinto and then problems with the vehicle that forced him to stop. Leclerc left after being hit in a dispute at Turn 1, while Bortoleto, debuting at home for Sauber, spun and crashed on the first lap in contact with Lance Stroll.
The race reflects common technical challenges on the São Paulo circuit, known for demanding curves and variable weather. Teams adjust tire and stopping strategies to maintain positions in the front pack.
Start marked by safety carThe start of the São Paulo GP brought an immediate yellow flag due to Bortoleto’s accident. The Brazilian, who started 18th after rebuilding the damaged car in Saturday’s sprint, lost control at the exit of Turn 1 when fighting for position with Stroll.
The safety car neutralized the race for five laps, allowing repairs to other vehicles. Hamilton, who started 13th, saw his nose damaged in a collision with Colapinto, forcing an early stop.
Restart incidents lead to retirements
On the restart, Piastri touched Antonelli in Turn 1, diverting the Mercedes to Leclerc’s side. The Monegasque Ferrari driver lost his front wheel and stopped in the escape area, retiring after six laps.
Hamilton continued with difficulties, but engine problems took him out of the race on lap 25. Bortoleto was already out from the start, with a broken suspension.
The sequence of events highlighted the initial aggressiveness between the pilots.
Pit stop strategies in focus
Verstappen, starting from the pits due to a penalty in qualifying, recovered up to fourth position with daring overtaking. He switched to soft tires on lap 36 and put pressure on Norris, who leads by 5 seconds over Antonelli.
Piastri, penalized 10 seconds for an incident with Antonelli, dropped to seventh after the penalty. Russell and Bearman also adjusted stops, swapping mediums for harder compounds to preserver rhythm.
- Norris maintains lead with fresh medium tires.
- Antonelli holds second place with stable Mercedes.
- Verstappen advances with aggressive pit strategy.
Russell overtook Hadjar in Curva do Sol, consolidating fourth place.
Verstappen’s recovery on the track
RBR’s Max Verstappen started the race in 16th and gained nine positions in the first 20 laps. He overtook Albon on the opposite straight and Alonso on Senna’s S, using DRS efficiently.
The team opted for a double pit stop with Russell, changing tires in quick sequence. This allowed the Dutchman to save time and get closer to the podium, despite a poor start due to car instability.
Hulkenberg, Bortoleto’s Sauber teammate, rose to sixth without any initial stops, but crashed after a pit on lap 28. Bearman impressed with ninth place, overtaking Alonso in a maneuver at the Café Curva.
The dry track favored overtaking, with 12 position changes in the top 10 until lap 50. Piastri paid the penalty and returned in seventh, under pressure from Hulkenberg.
Verstappen reported good balance after adjustments, aiming for third place if Norris falters. RBR focused on battery management for the final laps.
Current positions at 60 spins
Norris leads with 5.2 secondsthose about Antonelli. Russell remains in third, followed by Verstappen and Piastri.
The race enters the decisive phase, with tire fatigue influencing pace.
Behind the scenes highlights
Teams dismantle equipment in the paddock with 50% of the race completed. Thiaguinho sang the national anthem before the start, and Brazilian dishes were part of the teams’ menu.
Binotto, Bortoleto’s boss, praised the Brazilian’s potential despite the abandonment. Ecclestone and Wolff appear on lists of F1 billionaires.