Source – Formula1.com
At the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Lando Norris won the Sprint. Two circuits from the finish, McLaren decided to switch drivers, allowing the Briton to lead teammate Oscar Piastri in a one-two finish.
McLaren’s Lando Norris clinched victory in a thrilling Sao Paulo Sprint, leading a one-two finish for his team after a strategic driver swap with teammate Oscar Piastri. The 24-lap dash at the legendary Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace saw Piastri initially lead off the grid, pulling ahead of Norris as Max Verstappen and Charles Leclerc fought for the third spot. Yet as the Sprint neared its final stages, McLaren chose to elevate Norris to the lead, awarding the British driver eight crucial points toward the championship.
Verstappen had completed the initial top three but was later penalized for a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) infringement, incurring a five-second penalty that bumped him down to fourth, allowing Leclerc to snatch a podium finish for Ferrari. The Dutchman’s penalty stemmed from exceeding the minimum time requirement at the close of the VSC period, a decision confirmed after a stewards’ review, which also awarded him a penalty point on his license. This reshuffle meant Ferrari secured two strong finishes, with Carlos Sainz joining in fifth.
The Sprint began with just one practice session to refine setups, leading straight into a high-stakes qualifying session that saw both McLarens dominate. Norris topped the early phases, but Piastri seized pole with a late surge in SQ3, setting the stage for an intense contest at the start of the Sprint. Meanwhile, Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso, Lance Stroll, and Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu were all relegated to pit-lane starts due to parc fermé adjustments, further shaking up the order.
As the Sprint lights dimmed under sunny skies, Piastri burst off the line cleanly, creating a gap between himself and Norris while Verstappen sought to pressure Leclerc. The pair of McLarens managed to carve a lead, leaving Verstappen to challenge Leclerc without success. Radio communications between Norris and the team highlighted his readiness to overtake, prompting discussions about the team’s strategy. On Lap 22, McLaren executed a position swap, moving Norris into first but potentially exposing Piastri to Verstappen’s pursuit.
Despite Verstappen’s final push, a VSC triggered by Nico Hulkenberg’s halted Haas paused the charge. As the VSC lifted, Piastri expertly fended off Verstappen, securing McLaren’s top-two finish as Norris took the win. However, Verstappen’s subsequent penalty dropped him from third to fourth, gifting Leclerc a podium finish.
Mercedes’ George Russell claimed sixth, followed by Alpine’s Pierre Gasly in seventh, and Sergio Perez rounding out the points in eighth. McLaren’s efforts bolster their lead over Ferrari in the constructors’ standings by 34 points, while Norris closes the gap in the drivers’ race, now trailing by just 44 points. This strategic win reflects McLaren’s impressive progress and serves as a bold statement heading into the season’s final rounds.
