Norris recovers from difficult getaway to win São Paulo GP

Lando Norris turned a difficult getaway from pole into a São Paulo Grand Prix victory, earning his 50th career podium after dropping to third at the start. Oscar Piastri rose from 10th on the grid to finish sixth.

Light rain had left the track wet for the start, so the field ran on intermediate tyres. Norris was back in second by lap six; Piastri climbed to eighth off the line and seventh by lap nine. A dry line was forming by lap 10. The first cars switched to softs on lap 14, and McLaren brought both drivers in on lap 16. Piastri passed Liam Lawson for fifth on lap 23.

After the stops, Norris was one second behind leader Kimi Antonelli, having been seven seconds back. He reclaimed the lead on lap 20, then built a five-second margin by lap 30 and 10 seconds by lap 40.

Max Verstappen had risen to second and was an early adopter of fresh softs. Norris stopped on lap 49 and rejoined third, eight seconds ahead of Verstappen, with Antonelli and Hadjar still in front. Piastri’s lap-51 stop dropped him to sixth as George Russell stayed out. Team principal Andrea Stella said Piastri’s dry-tyre pace was encouraging but suggested he may have spent too long in traffic.

Rain returned almost immediately after the stops and intensified around lap 60 of 71. Russell came in for intermediates on lap 61, with the rest of the top six following on lap 62. Norris held the lead through the switch and finished 14 seconds clear of the chasing pack.

Stella credited the upgrades, car set-up, strategy, pit-wall instructions and pit stops for the win. He also said low temperatures had favoured McLaren, while Mercedes appeared stronger in warmer conditions.