Overview
- Lando Norris converted sprint pole to victory and, after switching to softs for a rolling restart, held off Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli, with George Russell third and Max Verstappen fourth.
- Oscar Piastri spun on the wet Turn 3 kerb on lap six and hit the wall, with Nico Hülkenberg and Franco Colapinto also crashing at the same spot, prompting barrier repairs and a roughly 20-minute stoppage.
- Home driver Gabriel Bortoleto crashed on the final lap, with the sprint ending under yellow flags and Sauber facing a late repair job ahead of qualifying.
- Interlagos featured fresh asphalt and drainage grooves in key sections after 2024 criticism, yet damp patches still influenced tyre choices and grip early in the sprint.
- Norris moves to 365 points to lead Oscar Piastri on 356, increasing the gap to nine points, as Verstappen sits third on 326; severe weather alerts remain in place as teams prepare for qualifying.