Ask Onix
Norris extends championship lead with flawless São Paulo performance
Lando Norris secured his seventh victory of the 2025 Formula 1 season at the São Paulo Grand Prix, extending his championship lead to 24 points over McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri and 49 over Red Bull's Max Verstappen. The British driver's back-to-back wins-including a sprint race triumph-have positioned him as the clear favorite with just three races remaining.
Despite downplaying title ambitions post-race, Norris' dominance in Brazil underscored his transformation from early-season struggles to championship form. "Not at all," he replied when asked if he was thinking about the title, though his 58-point swing over Piastri in the past seven races tells a different story.
From underdog to frontrunner: Norris' season turnaround
Norris' resurgence contrasts sharply with Piastri's collapse. The Australian, once a 34-point leader after the Dutch Grand Prix in August, has been plagued by errors-six significant mistakes in five races, including a sprint-race crash in São Paulo that handed Norris the championship lead. Piastri's fifth-place finish on Sunday, marred by a 10-second penalty for a Turn One collision with Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, did little to revive his fading hopes.
"I'm just trying to get the most out of [the season] as I can," Piastri admitted, acknowledging his struggle to match Norris' pace. Meanwhile, Norris attributed his consistency to mental resilience: "I cared too much about perceptions early in the year. Now, I'm just being true to myself."
Verstappen's heroic drive overshadowed by championship math
Max Verstappen delivered a masterclass in damage control, finishing third after starting from the pit lane-a result of post-qualifying setup changes that violated parc fermé rules. A lap-six puncture further complicated his race, but strategic tire management and relentless overtaking saw him challenge for the lead before a final-stop soft-tire gamble.
"Incredible," Verstappen called his recovery, though Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies dismissed suggestions he could have won: "There was no way we could've got P1." The Dutchman's 49-point deficit leaves his title defense mathematically alive but realistically over. "We lost the championship from race one," he conceded, shifting focus to "winning races" in the season's closing acts.
"The level of degradation was very high. At some stage, the tires just ran out of rubber."
Andrea Stella, McLaren team principal, on Verstappen's late-race tire strategy
McLaren's internal duel defines 2025's title race
The championship's narrative has flipped in two months. Piastri's early-season dominance-seven wins in 15 races-has given way to Norris' late surge, fueled by eliminated inconsistencies and a car now tailored to his strengths. "I've learned to deal with pressure better," Norris reflected, a stark contrast to Piastri's recent errors, including a jumped start in Baku and a self-inflicted sprint-race crash in Austin.
With 83 points still available, Norris' 24-point cushion is far from insurmountable, but his momentum-backed by three consecutive pole positions and two race wins-suggests a coronation is imminent. The next test comes in Las Vegas (20-22 November), where a strong result could seal his first world title.
Key statistics from São Paulo
- 58-point swing: Norris' gain over Piastri in the past seven races.
- 17th to 3rd: Verstappen's recovery from a pit-lane start, despite a puncture.
- 7 wins in 21 races: Norris' 2025 tally, matching Piastri's 15-race total from mid-season.
"It's a great win, but I'm disappointed we weren't quicker than Max. That's where my focus is now."
Lando Norris, on his post-race priorities
