Norris wins Brazil GP Sprint to extend lead as rival Piastri crashes out

Lando Norris came out on top of a hectic Brazil Sprint Race to extend his lead in the drivers’ standings to nine points as McLaren title rival Oscar Piastri crashed out of the race.

After Piastri put a wheel on the slippery kerbing at Curva del Sol on lap six, Norris took full advantage to lead home the Mercedes duo of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell. Max Verstappen finished fourth to keep his slim hopes just about alive.

To compound his rivals’ misery, Norris then took an assured pole for Sunday’s main race as Verstappen missed out on Q1 for the first time since 2021 and Piastri again qualified in fourth.

“It was tough, it was tough,” Norris told Sky Sports afterwards. “It makes the win look a little bit more rewarding when you have a race like this, especially when you have Kimi here and certainly not making my life easy.

“It was one of those ones where you have to push because you know the guy behind is going to push a little bit more. But it was sketchy, I had a couple of little moments but even with the wind it was tricky, and with the degradation on the tyres it was difficult. So not an easy race but probably a race you are expecting here in Brazil.”

Mega drive, Lando 🤩💪#McLaren | #BrazilGP 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/Peaf0UCkqH

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) November 8, 2025

Following a brief downpour a couple hours before the race start, there was some debate whether is would be slicks or intermediates.

But with no more rain forthcoming, the slick compound tyre was the order of the day – Norris and Piastri on the medium compound tyres, Antonelli, Russell and Verstappen on the softs.

Verstappen had the best of starts, clearing Fernando Alonso and up to fourth. For leader Norris, all was going to plan at the front of the field whilst chaos soon ensued behind.

It was disaster for Piastri, losing control into the barriers at Curva del Sol on lap 6 after putting a wheel onto the kerbing, Nico Hulkenberg and Franco Colopinto following suit in exactly the same spot on water dispersed by the McLaren.

Drama in #F1Sprint as Piastri crashes out! 😮#F1 #BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/rRbfLf6SLQ

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 8, 2025

Better still for Norris, a rolling start gave him breathing space into the first braking zone and with fewer laps remaining. Now on the red banded soft tyres, Norris extended his lead at the front.

And despite some still slippery spots and an increase in the gusting wind, the Englishman brought it home to further extend his lead in the drivers’ standings to nine points over rival Piastri.

“It was a struggle,” added Norris. “Of course with the softs at the beginning I thought would be better. But Mercedes were quick, Kimi kept me under pressure the whole race. I just expected us to be a little better, and we weren’t. I don’t know how much was down to the tyres or just they (Mercedes) did a good job and were quick today.”

A massive crash for home favourite Gabriel Bortoletto on the final lap meant the race finished under waved yellows, and the Brazilian thankfully emerged unscathed – testament to the strength of modern F1 cars.