Overview
- Red Bull withdrew Max Verstappen’s car from parc fermé, fitted a new Honda power unit and made wholesale set‑up changes, triggering a pit‑lane start at Interlagos.
- Lando Norris won the sprint and took grand prix pole, moving nine points clear of Oscar Piastri and 39 ahead of Verstappen before Sunday’s race.
- Verstappen’s Q1 elimination was his first on pure pace, capping Red Bull’s first double Q1 exit since 2006 as the RB21 suffered a chronic lack of grip.
- Team figures including Helmut Marko and Laurent Mekies conceded their set‑up gambles backfired, with Verstappen saying fans can "forget" about his title hopes.
- The sprint featured a red flag after Oscar Piastri crashed out in damp conditions; Sauber reported Gabriel Bortoleto was checked after a heavy late incident.