Rain and variable conditions always write their own script in Interlagos, and this weekend's Formula 1 action was no exception. As Motorsport.com reports, the chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix provided plenty of brilliance alongside some proper team and driver disasters.
Lando Norris put on a masterclass for McLaren, turning a pole position into a controlled victory. McLaren team boss Andrea Stella praised his driver's exceptional sensitivity to changing grip levels, noting how quickly he finds the limit in mixed conditions. Norris only faced a brief threat when Max Verstappen charged through the field, though a switch to slicks stalled the Red Bull's challenge due to an extreme oversteer balance issue that the team is still investigating. The McLaren driver's only blemish came on the podium when he smashed a champagne bottle and got caught in the pyrotechnics, thankfully without injury.
Max Verstappen delivered yet another stunning Sao Paulo comeback, marking the third consecutive year he has started at the rear and fought his way onto the podium, gaining a combined 51 positions over that span. Starting 21st, the four-time world champion carved through the field and got within nine seconds of Norris before his handling woes struck. Further up the strategic chess board, Isack Hadjar drove what was likely his best-ever race for Red Bull, showcasing a bold refusal to play a meek number two driver by asking about swapping positions back if Verstappen failed to catch the leader.
It was a deeply mixed bag for Mercedes. Despite Kimi Antonelli looking like the driver to beat in practice and George Russell showing strong pace, both drivers slipped up in the race. Antonelli spun out of the lead after battling handling issues, and Russell botched a move at the pit exit. Even so, the Silver Arrows secured their ninth constructors' crown and their first since 2021, meaning Toto Wolff and the squad will easily shrug off the individual race disappointments.
Ferrari endured a much harsher afternoon trying to recover from grid penalties for Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton. Hamilton launched a stunning opening lap from 20th to 11th, but both Ferraris soon struggled with excessive rear tyre wear on drying intermediates, compounded by a late spin for Hamilton in the heavy rain and a five-second penalty for Leclerc following a minor touch with Liam Lawson. Meanwhile, Lawson put in a gritty shift to finish seventh after a brilliant start, giving team bosses plenty to ponder as he fights to stay on the grid.
Aine and slippery conditions also exposed Alpine's aerodynamic deficiencies. Pierre Gasly and Franco Colapinto struggled all weekend for grip on both intermediate and extreme wet tyres, leaving Gasly lamenting odd aerodynamic data after finishing 14th behind his teammate. Down in the midfield, Fernando Alonso provided vintage entertainment for Aston Martin, bouncing back from a first-lap drop caused by contact with Oliver Bearman to fight with Ferraris and Mercedes on his way to 12th. At the very back of the troubles, Cadillac suffered a cruel blow before the lights even went out, as Valtteri Bottas failed to make the start due to a cross-threaded wheel nut that prevented the team from removing his right-rear wheel.
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