Overview
- Lando Norris completed a sprint–qualifying–race sweep at Interlagos to bank maximum points and consolidate control of the drivers’ championship.
- Norris now leads Max Verstappen by 49 points and Oscar Piastri by 24 with three races remaining and 83 points available, a margin Toto Wolff described as effectively decisive.
- Max Verstappen started from the pit lane after Red Bull abandoned a flawed underfloor upgrade, reset the setup, and installed a fifth power unit, then leveraged a VSC‑timed stop after an early slow puncture to climb to third.
- The stewards issued Oscar Piastri a 10‑second penalty for his role in an early clash that also took out Charles Leclerc, dropping the McLaren driver to fifth and denting his title push.
- Ferrari scored no points after retirements for Lewis Hamilton and Leclerc; Hamilton called his season a “nightmare” and Elkann faulted the drivers, while McLaren is already confirmed as Constructors’ champion.