Overview
- Norris leads the Drivers' Championship on 365 points after winning the Sprint, with Piastri on 356 and Verstappen on 326.
- McLaren has already secured the Constructors' Championship, shifting focus to the intra-team battle for the drivers' crown.
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli will start second after strong Interlagos pace, with Piastri lining up fourth on the grid.
- Lewis Hamilton qualified 13th, and Brazilian rookie Gabriel Bortoleto will start from the back after a Sprint crash prevented his qualifying run.
- With São Paulo followed by Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, published analyses indicate Verstappen likely needs to win remaining events and hope the McLarens drop points to stay in contention.