Norris Leads at Interlagos as Hadjar and Verstappen Battle for Podium

Norris Leads Interlagos

Lando Norris mène toujours la danse, trois secondes devant Hadjar, alors que les ingénieurs informent les pilotes d’un risque de pluie d’ici une quinzaine de tours.

Alors que tout le monde a chaussé des pneus tendres depuis, les ingénieurs de course informent les pilotes de ce risque de retour de la pluie d’ici une quinzaine de tours.

Antonelli Loses Lead After Spinning on Damp Track

Kimi Antonelli fell from the lead after spinning at the first turn on lap 20 on a damp track, handing the position back to Norris. Antonelli had kept the lead by a hair over Norris on lap 19 as the field shifted to soft tires. On lap 17, both the Italian and the Dutchman opted to keep intermediate tires on the front while everyone else passed to softs behind.

Hadjar capitalized on Antonelli’s mistake by overtaking the world champion on lap 21 to take second place. Verstappen subsequently passed Antonelli on lap 24 to claim third place behind Hadjar, as the world champion lost control again and allowed Verstappen to snatch his podium spot, putting both Red Bulls on the podium by lap 26 with Verstappen successfully settling into 3rd place behind his French partner.

Verstappen and Hamilton Start from the Back of the Grid

Antonelli made a strong start from the front row, passing Norris at the opening corner before Lawson slipped past the polesitter. Eleven world championship titles will be associated from the back of the grid, from where the Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton and the Red Bull of Max Verstappen will start, both penalized for changing components on their single-seater. Max Verstappen made up his deficit from the back of the grid like Hamilton, even treating himself to a fine overtake on Hamilton for 9th place, and reached 7th place on lap 6 after a double overtake on Piastri and Albon, keeping the dream of an 8th podium intact.

Hadjar provisionally took the podium on lap 7 by effortlessly passing the Racing Bulls of Lawson, his predecessor at Red Bull, before Russell dislodged Hadjar on lap 11 to climb to third place with Verstappen right behind in the battle for the podium. Hamilton and Leclerc battled at the gates of the points around lap 10, with the Monegasque holding the advantage in 12th after a nice duel.

Hamilton became the first driver to switch to slick tires on lap 15 as the circuit dried out, seeing his wish granted after numerous radio tergiversations. George Russell spun in the pit lane on lap 18, blocking the exit before recovering to seventh position after restarting in 10th place.

Paddock Reaction to Ocon

Esteban Ocon a reçu le soutien de ses collègues du paddock après sa mise à l’écart chez Haas, sur fond de spéculations concernant son comportement. Hamilton and Verstappen started from the back of the grid after being penalized for changing components on their cars, and celebrated their 400th F1 departure.

Rafael Câmara made his Formula 1 debut at his home race in Brazil, replacing Ocon at Haas after qualifying eleventh on the grid. At home, the Brazilian has experienced a complicated race since the start, dropping from 11th place on the grid to the penultimate place ahead of Perez, having already experienced a difficult Saturday marked by a mistake in qualifying before still managing to advance to Q2.

More on this story: Kimi Antonelli Sets Pace in Sao Paulo as Mercedes Close in on Constructors' Title · Lando Norris Leads FP1 in São Paulo as Max Verstappen Struggles with Red Bull

More on Verstappen: Verstappen leads Sao Paulo final practice ahead of Antonelli · Verstappen reclaims position after Stroll grid slot incident in Brazil · Max Verstappen Receives Brazil GP Grid Penalty After Red Bull Engine Change