SÃO PAULO — Lando Norris took a step towards a primary System 1 championship with a managed victory at a chaotic Sao Paulo Grand Prix at Interlagos.
Norris received from pole place, whereas teammate Oscar Piastri may handle solely fifth place in a race which noticed him given a debatable 10-second penalty for a collision with Kimi Antonelli early on which put Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc out of the race.
With out the penalty, Piastri would have completed second, that means it was one other expensive second for the Australian, who had additionally crashed out of Saturday’s dash race.
Sunday’s outcome gave Norris a 15-point swing on Piastri, that means he’s 24 forward going to the Las Vegas Grand Prix in two weeks’ time.
Norris additionally put additional distance between himself and Pink Bull’s Max Verstappen, regardless of the four-time world champion’s very good drive to 3rd place after beginning within the pit lane.
Verstappen’s drive included an early puncture and briefly the lead of the race as he pitted out of sequence to Norris and the remainder. The Dutchman overtook George Russell within the closing stint and nearly caught Mercedes rookie Antonelli in a drag race to the road, however the teenager held on for second place.
It was the second podium end of Antonelli’s rookie season and one of the best results of his F1 profession. Regardless of Verstappen’s very good drive, he goes to Las Vegas 49 factors down on Norris, with three races to run.
Norris’ win capped a near-perfect weekend, which noticed him win the dash race from pole place, one thing he replicated within the grand prix itself.
The Englishman held the lead off the road and was capable of keep away from the drama which unfolded behind him within the opening laps.
On the opening lap native hero Gabriel Bortoleto had his second crash in two days when he tangled with Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll, whereas Lewis Hamilton misplaced his entrance wing in a slipshod try to overtake Franco Colapinto down the principle straight.
Bortoleto’s crash into the wall triggered a security automobile and a significant championship second occurred on the restart. With Norris managing the restart completely, Mercedes rookie Antonelli gave the impression to be caught out. Leclerc went to his proper and Piastri sized up a transfer on the within and went for it, sensing a giant second to maneuver as much as second.
Piastri locked up as Antonelli drifted into the nook they usually made contact — Antonelli’s Mercedes automobile then spun into Leclerc’s Ferrari, which instantly misplaced a tire and retired down the highway.
Briefly it had appeared as if Norris and Piastri would duke it out for victory, with the transfer selling the Australian to second place.
Nevertheless, Piastri was dealt a hammer blow when the stewards handed him a 10-second penalty for “inflicting a collision,” which knocked him down the order. He was unable to catch Russell within the closing laps.
Though Ferrari had been optimistic of a podium problem, Leclerc’s retirement was the start of a depressing day for the crew.
Hamilton had already pitted for a brand new entrance wing by then however was not pleased how his fastened automobile was dealing with when he returned to the race observe. “Mate, I will crash out right here,” he mentioned a few laps later. “We’ll hold attempting. The automobile is loopy unstable.”
Hamilton was known as into the pit lane to retire on lap 37.
Haas rookie Oliver Bearman continued his spectacular latest kind in sixth place forward of Racing Bull’s Liam Lawson, who scored an excellent seventh place on the head of a prepare of automobiles all separated by a handful of seconds.
Lawson was forward of Racing Bulls teammate Isack Hadjar, Sauber’s Nico Hülkenberg and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, who rounded out the points-paying positions.
There was simply 5 seconds between seventh-placed Lawson and Aston Martin’s Lance Stroll in sixteenth after they crossed the road.
Yuki Tsunoda endured one other depressing weekend, ending a distant seventeenth in what appears to be like sure to be a season the place he’s dropped by Pink Bull’s predominant crew.