Arabic version: نوريس يفوز بجائزة ساو باولو الكبرى بعد سباق شاق
According to BBC News, Lando Norris won the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after a race that began on a wet track, dried progressively and brought more rain near the end. Norris described it as “one of the hardest races of the year in terms of focus needed every lap and therefore one of the best”.
Starting from pole, Norris was slower away than Kimi Antonelli, who built an eight-second lead over the first 13 laps. McLaren stopped Norris for slick tyres one lap before Antonelli, cutting a seven-second deficit to nothing. Antonelli then spun at Turn One under pressure, promoting Norris to a lead he did not relinquish.
Norris said McLaren’s execution, pit stops and timing had been among its best. “We boxed one lap early on to the slicks,” he said. “I came out and was right behind him and forced him to push a little bit more, and obviously he went into a mistake and I could capitalise on it.” McLaren team principal Andrea Stella said Norris was one of the fastest drivers at finding the limit in mixed and variable conditions.
Max Verstappen recovered from 21st on the grid to finish second, but said his Red Bull was difficult to drive after switching to slicks because of extreme oversteer in high-speed corners. Antonelli finished fifth and Mercedes team-mate George Russell fourth after both had spins. Those results were enough for Mercedes to clinch its ninth constructors’ championship, its first since 2021.
Norris was also struck by fireworks on the podium after accidentally stepping backwards into sparkles at the front of the platform. Stella later confirmed that the McLaren driver was unhurt.
