Overview
- Lando Norris extended his championship lead to nine points over Oscar Piastri after winning the sprint at Interlagos.
- Piastri retired on lap six of the sprint after clipping a wet Turn 3 kerb and hitting the barriers, adding to recent setbacks.
- The sprint was red-flagged for barrier repairs after multiple incidents, and Sauber confirmed Gabriel Bortoleto was uninjured following a heavy last-lap crash.
- Qualifying later put Norris on pole with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli second and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc third, while Piastri starts fourth.
- Max Verstappen reported “no grip” and was eliminated in Q1, leaving the Red Bull driver 16th on the grid after a difficult day with car balance and setup.