Lewis Hamilton faced a stewards' investigation after another disappointing day as Ferrari struggled for pace in Friday's qualifying for Saturday's sprint race at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

The 40-year-old seven-time world champion will start the sprint from 11th on the grid, unless he is penalised, and was almost lost for words after the session.

He was summoned to see the stewards for allegedly failing to slow under double yellow flags waved when teammate Charles Leclerc spun late in the second sprint qualifying session.

The incident wrecked Hamilton's hopes of delivering a late flying lap to advance to the final sprint qualifier.

Without a podium finish in a record 20 races since joining Ferrari this year, Hamilton has been unable to sustain momentum in a season of frustration.

"It's not for the lack of trying," he said. "The team thought we were a lot faster than we are."

"I gave it everything and ultimately we're just not quick enough.

Leclerc qualified eighth.

"I am very disappointed," he said. "The car felt good, but it was just not fast enough."

"It felt slow."

Max Verstappen's late bid for a fifth drivers world title suffered a setback on Friday when he qualified only sixth for Saturday's sprint race at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

The 28-year-old Dutchman, who said he needs four near-perfect weekends to overhaul McLaren driver Lando Norris's 36-point advantage in the title race, grumbled about the balance and handling of his Red Bull.

Norris, who won last year's sprint race in Brazil, topped the times to take pole for the sprint and, after taking a one-point lead in the title race ahead of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, seems to have seized the initiative again.

Piastri qualified third behind teenage rookie Kimi Antonelli in a Mercedes.

The outcome left Verstappen frustrated.

"I've got a lot of vibration in the car and a lot of ride problems," said Verstappen. "It's not what we want, but besides that we also just don't have the grip and the middle sector is terrible.

"I just can't get the car to turn, but at the same time I can't really rely on the rears. So, for us, it's quite poor," he said before adding. "But it is what it is."

Norris was satisfied with taking his first sprint pole of the season.

"It was a little bit tougher than I would've liked," he admitted.

"But I think we did the job we needed to do, which was to be fastest today. It's trickier than Mexico and I've not been feeling quite as comfortable, but, therefore, it's a great result for me."

His teammate and rival Piastri said: "I had a couple of big moments on my first lap which wasn't ideal.

"That was a bit of a shame, but ultimately I felt much happier today than during the last couple of weeks. It went well, I changed a couple of things and ultimately I'm pretty happy.

"We can definitely fight with what we've got and obviously there's a lot more points on Sunday."

Antonelli, who out-qualified teammate George Russell and was only 0.097 seconds off Norris was looking ahead to Saturday.

"We're going to have to take care of the wind and to expect quite different conditions," he said.

Series leader Lando Norris grabbed his first sprint pole position of the season on Friday to keep his title hopes on track as he topped qualifying ahead of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and his McLaren teammate and rival Oscar Piastri.

The 25-year-old Briton, who leads Piastri by one point in the drivers’ championship with four Grands Prix remaining, clocked a best lap in one minute and 9.243 in the final seconds of a tense session at a warm Interlagos.

Lando’s first Sprint Pole of the year 🤩#McLaren | #BrazilGP 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/NlqEEJdRN5

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) November 7, 2025

Antonelli was second, 0.097seconds adrift, with Piastri 0.185 behind in third ahead of George Russell in the second Mercedes and two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin.

Max Verstappen, who is 36 points behind Norris in the title race, was an unhappy sixth for Red Bull, the four-time champion grumbling about the balance of his car, ahead of Lance Stroll in the second Aston Martin, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc,

Red Bulls’ rookie Isack Hadjar qualified in ninth place ahead of Nico Hulkenberg of Sauber with seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton 11th in his Ferrari.

Our starting grid for Saturday's #F1Sprint 👀#F1 #BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/0KHWN6C7Zs

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 7, 2025

"A good day for me today," said Norris, who regained the championship lead for the first time in six months by winning in Mexico two weeks ago.

"It’s a long weekend and it’s only Friday – and it’s forecast to be windy and wet so we have to be prepared for that."

"It was a little bit tougher than I would've liked," said Norris. “It’s always tricky when you've got the medium and the soft and knowing how much more to push - or not to push sometimes, but we did the job we needed to do, which was to be fastest today. It’s trickier than Mexico and I've not been feeling quite as comfortable. Therefore, it's a great result."

Verstappen briefly took command in 1:10.107 but it was soon overhauled by Russell and then both Norris and Piastri while Ferrari struggled with Lewis Hamilton 10th and Leclerc 12th.

Verstappen managed to split the McLarens in the final seconds, reminding them of his threat in the title race, before SQ2 began with local hero Gabriel Bortoleto leading out in his Sauber.

By then, the temperatures were falling from 20 (air) and 43 (track) and that, with a strengthening breeze, brought changing conditions. On first runs, Alonso set the pace in 1:09.330, a lap-time that remained untouched ahead of Norris and Piastri.

Attention turns to tomorrow's Sprint 🏁

Result ⏰ | NOR, ANT, PIA, RUS, ALO, Max 🦁, STR, LEC, HAD, HUL#F1 || #BrazilGP 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/4006nnlBv6

— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) November 7, 2025

Verstappen went through in eighth from SQ2, complaining that "the car is completely broken, it’s just undriveable!" Hamilton was also unhappy and was noted for a ‘yellow flag infringement’.

This left Russell to clock the first fast lap on softs in 1:09.556, a time beaten by Antonelli and then Norris in 1:09.271. Piastri was three-tenths off in fourth as they prepared for their final runs in the shootout for sprint pole.

McLaren principal Andrea Stella hailed teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on Friday for working together in a way he said was unprecedented in Formula One history between title rivals.

Norris retook the championship lead from Piastri last month with a commanding win at the Mexican Grand Prix, but is only one point clear of the Australian with four rounds, and two sprint races, remaining.

Piastri can regain the lead in Saturday's sprint at Interlagos.

"I am personally very proud of our two drivers, our engineers. They collaborate in a way I think that we have not seen before in the history of Formula One," Stella told reporters ahead of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

"We are not naive. We know that the pressure is high, we know that the stake is big. But we will continue leaning on our framework.

"So far what I've seen is that Lando and Oscar have always been very supportive," he added.

McLaren have already clinched the constructors' championship, but Red Bull's reigning world champion Max Verstappen remains a threat – 36 points behind Norris in third place in the drivers' standings.

Stella said the drivers had to make sure one of them secured the title, recalling 2007 when then McLaren favourites Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton lost the championship in the last round to Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

"Potentially, that competition went a little too far," said Stella, who was working for Ferrari at the time.

"This is a conversation we are having internally right now. We are having conversations with Lando, with Oscar: 'let’s make sure that the winner drives a papaya car (McLaren), OK'.

"Let's make sure that we collaborate as much as is sensible to do so between two drivers to make sure that the title is a Papaya overall and a Papaya car."

The Woking-based team last won a drivers' title in 2008 with Hamilton and have not won both championships in the same year since Mika Hakkinen in 1998.

A three-way fight for the drivers’ title is on with McLaren duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri looking to end Red Bull’s Max Verstappen reign.

With four races and two sprints left, 120 points are still available, meaning the title is wide open.

Norris has outperformed Piastri in recent rounds, and internal friction—like their wheel-banging in Singapore—could decide the title.

After an eight-race winless streak, Verstappen has stormed back with multiple victories and sprint wins.

Two remaining sprints (São Paulo and Qatar) offer extra points that could swing the championship.

These short-format races add pressure and technical challenges for all contenders.

There is only one place to watch the drama unfold - every single race is LIVE on SuperSport, your World of Champions. Click on the banner below to sign up for DStv Premium.

There has been a shake-up with the 2025 grid and only two teams, McLaren and Aston Martin, have stuck with their lineup from last year.

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton's switch to Ferrari is the biggest change going into the new season.

Six rookies are set to make their fulltime debut. Oliver Bearman caught the eye when he stood in for Carlos Sainz at Ferrari and Kevin Magnussen at Haas last season. The 19-year-old Briton joins Haas on a multi-year contract.

Let's take a look at the full calendar ahead, with full broadcast details for the upcoming GP.

CALENDAR 2025 (all times CAT, GMT+2) 

NEXT UP:

21. Sunday, 9 November 2025
Brazil GP, Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace (Interlagos), Sao Paulo

Friday, 7 November. SS Motorsport, Maximo 1

• Practice 1: 4:25pm.
• Sprint Qualifying: 8:25pm.

Saturday, 8 November. SS Motorsport, Maximo 1

• Sprint: 3:55pm.
• Qualifying: 7:55pm.

Sunday, 9 November. SS Motorsport, Maximo

• Race: 6:55pm.

FULL SEASON

 ----- BREAK -----

22. Sunday, 23 November 2025
Las Vegas GP, Las Vegas Street Circuit

23. Sunday, 30 November 2025
Qatar GP, Losail International Circuit

24. Sunday, 7 December 2025
Abu Dhabi GP, Yas Marina Circuit

COMPLETED RACES

1. Australia (Melbourne) - 16 March

• Full race report and video highlights from Australia
  

2. China, (Shanghai) - 23 March 

• Full race report and video highlights from China
  

3. Japan (Suzuka) - 6 April

• Full race report and video highlights from Japan
  

4. Bahrain (Sakhir) - 13 April

• Full race report and video highlights from Bahrain
  

5. Saudi Arabia (Jeddah) - 20 April

• Full race report and video highlights from Saudi Arabia
  

6. Miami - 4 May

• Full race report and video highlights from Miami
  

7. Emilia-Romagna GP, Imola - 18 May

• Full race report and video highlights from Imola
  

8. Monaco - 25 May

• Full race report and video highlights from Monaco
  

9. Spainish GP, Barcelona - 1 June

• Full race report and video highlights from Spain
  

10. Canadian GP, Montreal - 15 June

• Full race report and video highlights from Canada
  

11. Austrian GP, Spielberg - 29 June

• Full race report and video highlights from Austria
  

12. British GP, Silverstone - 6 July

• Full race report and video highlights from Silverstone
  

13. Belgian GP, Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps - 27 July

• Full race report and video highlights from Belgium
  

14. Hungary GP, Hungaroring, Budapest - 3 August

• Full race report and video highlights from Hungary
  

15. Netherlands GP, Zandvoort - 31 August

• Full race report and video highlights from Hungary
  

16. Italian GP, Monza - 7 September

• Full race report and video highlights from Monza
  

17. Azerbaijan GP, Baku City Circuit - 21 September

• Full race report and video highlights from Azerbaijan
  

18. Singapore GP, Marina Bay Street Circuit - 5 October

• Full race report and video highlights from Singapore
  

19. US GP, Circuit of the Americas - 19 October

• Full race report and video highlights from US
  

20. Mexico GP, Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, Mexico City - 26 October

• Full race report and video highlights from Mexio
  

----- TEAMS -----

Red Bull Racing    
1  Max Verstappen
30 Liam Lawson

Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team    
63  George Russell
12 Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Scuderia Ferrari    
16  Charles Leclerc
44 Lewis Hamilton

McLaren F1 Team    
81 Oscar Piastri
4  Lando Norris

Alpine F1 Team    
14  Pierre Gasly
31 Jack Doohan

RB    
22  Yuki Tsunoda
6 Isack Hadjar

Aston Martin Cognizant F1 Team    
14  Fernando Alonso
18  Lance Stroll

Williams Racing    
55 Carlos Sainz
23  Alexander Albon[c]

Kick Sauber    
27 Nico Hulkenberg 
5 Gabriel Bortoleto

Haas F1 Team    
87 Oliver Bearman
31 Esteban Ocon

 

Alpine re-signed Franco Colapinto for his talent and not the Argentine sponsorship package that supports him, team chief Steve Nielson said on Friday.

Speaking in the Interlagos paddock at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Nielsen said Alpine had considered all of the available drivers before reaching a decision to continue with the 22-year-old Argentine.

"To be honest, we had everybody on the table – and a lot more drivers that have since gone elsewhere – but gradually we moved towards choosing Franco.

"We're happy with that, but anybody that was a possibility at some stage or another, we considered them."

"Of course, you can't ignore the financials," he said. "But ultimately we've got Franco on talent and the fact that he brings the financial side is a happy accident."

The team is running with the branding of Colapinto's sponsor Mercado Libre this weekend for the third race running.

"Our decision for 2026 is a clear indication of our commitment and strong support for Franco as he develops as a race driver," said Alpine's executive consultant Flavio Briatore.

Colapinto has yet to drive a full season in F1. In 2024 he started nine races for Williams, as a replacement for Logan Sargeant. This season Alpine promoted him from reserve to replace Jack Doohan at the seventh race, at Imola.

"Ever since I made my debut, I knew it would be a huge challenge to keep my place," said Colapinto. "It's a long and tough road and I am proud to have the opportunity to stay with the team in 2026."

Colapinto was 16th in Friday's opening practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

"It's very difficult for any new driver coming in," said Nielsen. "We've seen some come in and hit the ground running straight away and others who struggle a little bit."

Colapinto has yet to pick up a point this season. The team's more experienced driver, Pierre Gasly, has collected 20 with a highest finish of sixth.

"Franco... struggled a bit to start with, to be honest, but gradually – and we are lucky to have Pierre as an established marker – he has upped his game and taken the fight to Pierre," said Nielsen.

"He has even been quicker than Pierre on a few occasions so ultimately that's what got him the seat for next year."

Championship leader Lando Norris produced a fastest late lap to top the times narrowly ahead of his teammate and title rival Oscar Piastri as McLaren dominated Friday's practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Norris clocked a best lap of one minute and 9.975 seconds to beat the Australian by just 0.023 seconds, the pair of them six-tenths clear of third-placed Nico Hulkenberg of Haas.

Two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin was fourth ahead of Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto, Mercedes' George Russell, Pierre Gasly of Alpine and Carlos Sainz of Williams.

Isack Hadjar was ninth for Racing Bulls and Kimi Antonelli 10th in the second Mercedes.

Max Verstappen was 17th for Red Bull after running only on hards and using the session for data acquisition.

The two Ferraris of Charles Leclerc and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton wound up 18th and 19th ahead of Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda. The Ferraris ran the whole session on hard tyres without switching to softs in the final laps.

Hamilton also had a big spin at Turn 11 in the final minutes as the flag came out. "Rear hit the floor," he reported, suggesting that Ferrari were attempting to run a minimal ride-height on the bumpy Interlagos circuit.

It was a busy and eventful session which offered a strong clue to McLaren's adaptation for the circuit but without any clear signals of what else to expect ahead of sprint race qualifying later Friday. Most of the teams switched to mediums to clock their best laps.

The two Mercedes led the way out to start the session on a bright sunlit day before Alonso and then Piastri topped the early times, just hours after Alpine had confirmed that Franco Colapinto was to remain with them next year.

Russell was soon on top and reacted to a faster lap by Norris to return with a best of 1:11.542 after 16 minutes as he lapped increasingly quickly to cut his lap time to 1:11.188 before pitting after a 10-lap stint.

Verstappen ran off at Turn Four in similar fashion to Tsunoda, earlier in the session, suggesting Red Bull were facing a challenge as teams began switching tyres to evaluate in the only practice session of the weekend.

The times remained unchanged for a period before Albon went top only for Russell to reply and then be trumped by Sainz in 1:10.820 on mediums before the McLarens showed their potential in the final minutes.

On his final lap Piastri went top with seconds remaining before Norris beat him by 0.023 ahead of Hulkenberg, who 15 years earlier on this day, had claimed the only pole position of his career.

Oscar Piastri responded to his doubters on Thursday by emphatically claiming that he remains confident he can recover form and win the drivers' world championship this year.

The 24-year-old Australian, who lost the lead of the title race for the first time in six months when McLaren teammate Lando Norris won last month's Mexico City Grand Prix, said: "I've still got what it takes to win".

Speaking at Interlagos ahead of this weekend's potentially key Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Piastri –- who has been beaten by Norris at the last five events –- added: "People can think what they want to think, right?

"For me, I know that I've still got what it takes to win the championship. Yeah, there's been some bumps along the road, but there's been bumps along the road for everyone this year at different points.

"I'm confident that I've learnt a lot of helpful things from the last couple of weekends in particular and I'm confident as well that I can still perform at some of the heights of the success we've had this year.

"There's still a lot of laps to go and I'm very confident I can still win."

Piastri was 34 points ahead of Norris at the start of September, but has seen that advantage disappear with four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull romping through a successful run to reduce his 104-point deficit to 36.

After three wins in the last six races, the Dutchman is third and threatening, as several paddock observers have criticised Piastri's drop in form.

"A total collapse," said 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve, who questioned Piastri's ability to cope with the pressure of expectation.

Piastri, without a win in five races since the Dutch Grand Prix, knows he has to deliver a strong response to rekindle his hopes of becoming Australia's third champion and first since Alan Jones in 1980.

Lewis Hamilton called for more "transparency and accountability" from Formula One's governing body after questioning on Thursday why he had been given a penalty at last month's Mexico City Grand Prix.

The seven-time world champion was handed a 10 second penalty after he cut across the grass at turn four while others who cut corners before that escaped sanction.

"There isn't any clarity," the Ferrari driver told reporters at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix when asked if he understood more clearly the reasoning behind the decision.

"I think that's probably part of the bigger issue of transparency and accountability. And also kind of that secrecy, that decisions are made in the background.

"I think it's something that definitely needs to be tackled," added the Briton.

Hamilton had qualified third in Mexico, with his first podium with Ferrari looking a real possibility before the sanction.

He finished eighth at the chequered flag.

The Briton, who lost what would have been a record eighth title in 2021 after a controversial late change to the safety car rules went against him during the final race, said such in-race decisions carried a big responsibility.

"I don't know if they're aware of the weight of their decisions," he said. "They ultimately steer careers and can decide results of championships, as we've seen in the past. So some work needs to be done there, I'm sure."

Hamilton is a three times winner at Brazil's Interlagos circuit but is still seeking his first podium with the Italian team he joined from Mercedes in January.

Max Verstappen said he had no pressure and nothing to lose as he seeks to close the gap in the Formula One title battle with McLaren's front-running favourites Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Speaking to reporters at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, Red Bull's reigning champion said he would need some luck to slash the 36-point deficit to Norris, but he would be going "all-in" to try and do it.

McLaren's Norris is one point clear of his Australian teammate Piastri with four rounds, and two sprint races, remaining.

Verstappen had looked out of the running at the end of August, when he was 104 points behind then-leader Piastri, but he has roared back into contention and taken three wins in the last five races.

He has spoken of the need for perfection in the remaining rounds to have a chance of a fifth successive title, but he emphasised on Thursday that anything from now on was also a bonus.

"Probably we need a little bit of luck on one round to create a bigger offset, but we're going to give it all," said the Dutch driver, who won in Brazil last year from 17th on the starting grid.

"If that's going to be enough at the end of the year, I don't know. But there's also not much to lose. I mean, worst case, we are P3 (third) and best case, you can win a championship.

"There is an opportunity, of course, that we can win it, so we are going for it, all in," added Verstappen, winner of five of 20 races so far this season.

Norris has won six and Piastri seven.

"For me there's no pressure. Even if I don't win it, I still know that I drove a really good season," said Verstappen.

"I mean, to still be talking about being in this fight, I think, is already remarkable in the first place... when you're over 100 points behind, and then still we're talking about being in this fight, I think it's very impressive."

Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson revealed on Thursday that he received clear support from the FIA after being wrongly blamed by the Mexican authorities for a near-miss as marshals ran on track during last month's Mexican Grand Prix.

Speaking to reporters at Interlagos ahead of this weekend's Sao Paulo Grand Prix, the 23-year-old New Zealander said he was shocked by both the incident and how it was interpreted by the local organisers, who initially blamed him for lack of care and caution.

"I was very surprised when it came out," he said, when asked how he felt at how the potentially-fatal incident was treated and then reported by the Mexican promoters.

"I think the FIA statement was very clear and very accurate as well. I don't really need to say too much more than what was put in that statement.

"It was obvious (they had) checked into everything that led to that happening, to the fact that they got caught out there and then everything I did in the car to obviously slow down and avoid them – and take a completely different line than what I've taken through the entire weekend."

Lawson was rejoining the race after making a pit stop when he came upon two marshals running across the racing line at Turn One of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Shocked at the time, Lawson avoided an accident and reported it on team radio, saying he felt he "could have killed" the two marshals who were out on track to clear debris.

The Mexican motorsport federation then blamed him for failing to drive with sufficient caution as yellow flags were waved.

VERY APPRECIATIVE

The sport's ruling body, the International Motoring Federation (FIA), announced an investigation and subsequently cleared Lawson of any blame.

"I was very appreciative of the FIA and their review," he said.

"It took everything into account with the team, the data from inside the car and the statement was factual and clear. I am also still surprised that they (the Mexican federation) would post something like that without any research."

He added that he had deliberately avoided taking any obvious or dramatic avoiding action.

"The thing is, maybe some people would expect big avoiding action and swerving and stuff when something like this happens, but it's like when you are running at somebody and you don't know what direction they are going to go," he said.

"Honestly, when I saw that they were running across the track, I knew as long as I kept that trajectory and just opened up in a safe way, without any erratic movements, that they would hopefully keep going in that direction.

"If I'd started swerving, I'm going to freak the guy out and he might turn back the other way. In the end, I just rolled out to a line that was so much wider than I had taken all weekend anyway."

The full report of the FIA investigation has not yet been published, but as Lawson revealed the interim statement cleared him of any blame.

The incident revived memories of a tragic accident at the 1977 South African Grand Prix when Tom Pryce struck marshal Jansen van Vuuren at Kyalami. Both died.

McLaren would rather miss out on the Formula One world championship by a point than favour one of their drivers against Red Bull's Max Verstappen, according to the team's chief executive Zak Brown.

McLaren's Lando Norris leads Australian teammate Oscar Piastri by a point in the standings with four rounds, including Sunday's Sao Paulo Grand Prix and sprint, remaining.

Verstappen, chasing his fifth title in a row, is 36 points off the pace and closing in after slashing the gap from 104 at the end of August while McLaren's pair have taken points off each other.

The Dutch driver's return to contention has reminded some of the 2007 season won by Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, who finished strongly and ended up beating McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso by one point.

'NOT HOW WE GO RACING'

"We're well aware of 2007," Brown told Formula One's 'Beyond the Grid' podcast on Thursday. "But we've got two drivers who want to win the world championship. We're playing offence; we're not playing defence.

"I'd rather go 'We did the best we can and our drivers tied on points and the other guy beat us by one' than the alternative," he added.

"Which is telling one of our drivers right now, when they're one point away from each other, 'I know you have a dream to win the world championship, but we flipped a coin and you don't get to do it this year'."

"Forget it. That's not how we go racing."

Norris has beaten Piastri in the last five races, a situation that has already led to online conspiracy theories about McLaren potentially favouring the Briton at the Australian's expense.

 

Teamwork in the Sprint 🤝

Last season's #F1Sprint in Sao Paulo saw Oscar Piastri allow teammate Lando Norris through in the final laps to secure the victory, amid Lando's 2024 championship bid 💨#F1 #BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/E5PlTH3XPh

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 6, 2025

 

Brown said the best way to win the constructors' title, which McLaren clinched last month for the second year in a row, was for the drivers to finish first and second.

The best way to win the drivers' championship, he added, was to have two drivers going for the title.

Verstappen is effectively a one-man team at Red Bull, his points making up 321 of their 20-race total of 346, and does not have to worry about Japanese teammate Yuki Tsunoda taking anything off him.

Brown said he wanted to make sure that if Verstappen were to win, it was down to him beating McLaren rather than the team beating themselves.

"In the event 2007 happens again, I'd rather have that outcome than all the other outcomes by playing favourites," he added. "We won't do it. We're racers, we're going racing."

Gabriel Bortoleto is keeping expectations in check as he prepares for a first home Formula One outing in Brazil at a track he has only raced on once before in a stock car event.

The 21-year-old Sauber rookie, who will be the first Brazilian to start a grand prix at Sao Paulo's atmospheric Interlagos circuit since Felipe Massa in 2017, said he would seek to treat it like any other race.

"I won't lie, there's obviously more expectation, more anxiety from all sides. But, at the end of the day, it's a race that offers the same number of points," Bortoleto told reporters. "I want to treat it the same way and just do my best.

"The expectation will always be there, but it won't change the final result. So, the important thing is for us to give our best, prepare for the weekend as best we can, and do our job on the track," he added.

'NEW TRACK'

The Brazilian, who won the Formula Two championship last year after clinching the Formula Three title the season before, spent much of his career in Europe and acknowledged his limited experience of the Sao Paulo track.

"It's kind of a new track for me," said the rookie, whose previous race there was a 2022 stock car event.

He left Brazil for European karting aged 11, with him and his family believing the move could be the best and fastest route to Formula One.

"It's been a few years since that race happened. It was a really fun one, we enjoyed it and got to understand the track a little bit. But I don't think you can take too much from it," he added.

Aware of Interlagos' famously fickle weather, the home driver said rain would ideally be welcome during practice to test conditions ahead of qualifying.

"But in the end, it's not about what I want. Whatever happens, happens. It's the same for everyone, so let's go for it," he added.

Bortoleto, 19th in the drivers' championship with 19 points, is coming off a hard-fought 10th-place finish in the Mexican Grand Prix and has drawn praise from veterans, including his teammate Nico Hulkenberg.

"Gabi is one of the most promising rookies I've seen in a long, long time," the 38-year-old German told reporters on Thursday. "He's very high quality, an extremely fast learner, extremely quick."

Formula One champion Max Verstappen showed in Brazil last year, winning from 17th on the grid, that he can never be counted out but McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri need no reminding of that in Sao Paulo this weekend.

The battle at the top between Norris and Piastri is on a knife-edge with four rounds remaining, with the Briton a point clear of the Australian.

Norris has momentum, despite insisting he does not believe in that, and has beaten his teammate in the last five races – although they collided in the most recent sprint in Austin.

But Piastri showed signs of a comeback and return to form in the Mexico race, if not qualifying, and with a Saturday sprint also in the mix in Brazil and paying extra points the gap is set to widen one way or another.

"Brazil is a great opportunity to score some big points, especially with the sprint race. There is everything still to play for, and preparation for this weekend has been very productive," said the Australian.

Our duo's thoughts before the #BrazilGP 💭#McLaren https://t.co/z7QK2Uyd5X pic.twitter.com/rDnPVlpAAd

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) November 5, 2025

BUMPER 33 POINT HAUL TO BE WON

Verstappen will be looking to make inroads of his own with a bumper 33 point haul to be won from the weekend's two races.

Red Bull's four-time world champion is 36 points behind Norris, after being 104 adrift of then-leader Piastri at the end of August, and Sao Paulo's bowl-like Interlagos circuit is an old favourite.

The Dutch driver – who has family connections to Brazil through his partner Kelly Piquet, daughter of triple champion Nelson – is going for his third successive win there and fourth in all.

Locking in for the weekend🔒 #F1 || #BrazilGP 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/DyhIv8Vq8n

— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) November 5, 2025

He is also the acknowledged king of the sprints, even though Norris won last year's in Sao Paulo, with more wins – 13 of 22 – in the short format than anyone.

"It can rain heavily there so you can have quite crazy races, especially last year's race where we won after qualifying 17th, which was an emotional win and an important moment in the championship," he said.

🇧🇷 + 🌧️ = absolute cinema 😮‍💨🤌#F1 || #BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/UeyIskwITW

— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) November 5, 2025

Current forecasts suggest it could be a wet Saturday – the kind of conditions Verstappen thrives in – but a cooler, dry Sunday.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton is also a three-time winner at Interlagos and proud to be an honourary Brazilian.

The Briton has yet to stand on the podium since he joined Ferrari and where better than the circuit where he took the first of his seven titles with a last-gasp overtake in 2008 as a McLaren driver?

Ferrari have not won there since Sebastian Vettel triumphed in 2017, however.

"We come to Brazil with a positive attitude, off the back of two solid weekends in Austin and Mexico, where we maximised the potential of the car," said team boss Fred Vasseur.

"The goal now is to keep this momentum going, focus on execution, and be ready to react to whatever weather conditions we encounter in Sao Paulo."

The constructors' championship has been won already by McLaren but the battle for second is too close to call, with Ferrari only a point clear of Mercedes and Red Bull a further nine adrift.

Brazil will have a driver to cheer for the first time since 2017 with Gabriel Bortoleto making his home debut for Sauber while an influx of Argentine fans is to be expected as Franco Colapinto returns with last-placed Alpine.

The Renault-owned team had a double podium to celebrate in Brazil last year, with Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly second and third, but their current form has been dire with fewer points from 20 races this year than in that one.

Formula One statistics for the Sao Paulo Grand Prix at Brazil's Interlagos circuit, round 21 of the 24-race championship and also the season's penultimate Saturday sprint:

Lap distance: 4.309km. Total distance: 305.879km (71 laps)

2024 pole position: Lando Norris (Britain) McLaren one minute 23.405 seconds.

2024 winner: Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Red Bull

Race lap record: Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Mercedes 1:10.540 seconds (2018)

Start time: 1700GMT/1400 local

IT'S RACE WEEK IN SAO PAULO!! 🇧🇷💨

Who here is excited for us to go racing in Brazil? 🙌#F1 #BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/sYfkMe0HYz

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 3, 2025

BRAZIL

- Brazil first hosted a grand prix at Interlagos in 1973.

- Three current drivers have won in Brazil: Lewis Hamilton (2016, 2018, 2021), Verstappen (2019, 2023, 2024), George Russell (2022).

Throwing back to @GeorgeRussell63's first win! 🤩

He secured his inaugural victory in 2022 in Sao Paulo 🏆#F1 #BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/WlEmymni4g

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 5, 2025

- The flowing anti-clockwise circuit is named after Brazilian driver Jose Carlos Pace, who won in 1975 and died in 1977.

- Sunday will be the 42nd world championship grand prix hosted by the circuit.

- Michael Schumacher won four times in Sao Paulo, a record that Hamilton and Verstappen – who is also going for three wins in a row at Interlagos – can equal.

- Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto is the only Brazilian driver and the first to race at home since Felipe Massa in 2017.

- There is always a high chance of a safety car.

Excited for more of this! 💚💛#F1 #BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/9KkZPVgLex

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 3, 2025

DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP

- McLaren's Lando Norris leads teammate Oscar Piastri by one point. Norris has beaten the Australian in the last five races.

- Red Bull's Max Verstappen is third and 36 points off the lead, after being 104 behind at the end of August.

CONSTRUCTORS' TITLE

- McLaren clinched the team's 10th constructors' championship, and second in a row, in Singapore last month.

- Ferrari are second, one point ahead of Mercedes with Red Bull a further nine behind.

WINS

- Piastri has won seven times this season, Norris six, Verstappen five and Mercedes' George Russell twice.

- Hamilton has not won since his career 105th victory in Belgium on July 28, 2024.

- Ferrari have not won since October 27 last year and are the only top four team without a win.

- Verstappen has won 68 grands prix and is third on the all-time list after Michael Schumacher on 91.

- McLaren have won 13 of 20 races, but only one of the last five.

POLE POSITION

- Verstappen has been on pole seven times this season, Piastri and Norris five each, Russell twice and Charles Leclerc once.

- The last six races have been won from pole, and 14 of 20.

SPRINT

- Norris won last year's sprint in Brazil, with Piastri second. Piastri had started on pole with Norris second.

- Verstappen has won two of 2025's four sprint races so far (Belgium and Austin). Hamilton (Shanghai) and Norris (Miami) won the others.

- Only two of the four were won from pole.

Super Max always finds a little extra on #F1Sprint Saturdays ⏰🔥#SSMotorsport | #F1 pic.twitter.com/sMhdohQVQe

— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) November 5, 2025

PODIUM

- Norris has been on the podium 16 times in 20 races, the most of any driver, and Piastri 14.

- Piastri has now been absent from the podium in four successive races.

- Leclerc has been second twice. The Monegasque has seven podiums for the season. Hamilton has yet to stand on the podium for Ferrari since he joined in January.

- Nine drivers from seven teams have been on the podium in 2025.

- Verstappen's third place in Mexico was his 123rd career podium, putting him one ahead of retired quadruple champion Sebastian Vettel and third on the all-time list.

POINTS

- Alpine rookie Franco Colapinto is the only driver on the grid yet to score this year.

MILESTONE

Sunday marks a year since Renault-owned Alpine's last podium. They finished second and third in Brazil last year with Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly. Alpine scored more points in that race than they have so far in all of 2025.

Double the celebrations for @AlpineF1Team last season, clinching a double podium in Sao Paulo 🥈🥉#F1 #BrazilGP pic.twitter.com/VwyQD0jADK

— Formula 1 (@F1) November 5, 2025

Andretti Global announced a multi-year extension on Monday with NTT IndyCar Series driver Kyle Kirkwood, through "2026 and beyond."

Specific length of the contract was not revealed by Andretti Global.

Kirkwood, 27, has won five times and reached six podiums in the No 27 Honda since joining Andretti in 2023.

"Kyle represents exactly what we strive for across TWG Motorsports and Andretti Global," Andretti Global president Jill Gregory said.

"His blueprint for success has made him a key part of our INDYCAR line-up defined by talent, tenacity and a relentless drive to win. Kyle's growth and ambition reflect the strength of Andretti Global and our commitment to developing world-class competitors on and off the track."

The plan isn’t changing. Kyle Kirkwood is extended for a multi-year contract with Andretti Global🔒 pic.twitter.com/nZ69cC9bkB

— Andretti INDYCAR & INDY NXT (@AndrettiIndy) November 3, 2025

Kirkwood's breakout 2025 campaign included Grand Prix wins at Long Beach (April 13), Detroit (1 June) and Illinois (15 June). He finished fourth in the season standings.

"We've had an amazing three years together and our future together is very bright," Kirkwood said.

"We have proven to be true contenders, and most recently, Championship contenders. Our trajectory has only been up, and I am confident that we will be fighting again for championships. Between the new shop, leadership, teammates and the many evolving factors within the organisation, I believe this team is an absolute powerhouse, and we're so excited for the journey ahead."

Joining Kirkwood in Andretti's 2026 line-up are two-time IndyCar champion Will Power and 2022 Indianapolis 500 winner Marcus Ericsson.

Here to stay.

Andretti Global announces Kyle Kirkwood has signed a multiyear contract extension with the team. pic.twitter.com/mdd9DPXx74

— NTT INDYCAR SERIES (@IndyCar) November 3, 2025

 

Liam Lawson bears no blame for a near-miss with two marshals who crossed the track ahead of him during last weekend's Mexico City Grand Prix, Formula One's governing body said on Friday.

The New Zealander, who drives for Red Bull's Racing Bulls, was shocked by the lap three incident which happened after he left the pits last Sunday.

"Are you kidding me? Did you just see that?" he asked his race engineer over the radio. "I could have ... killed them, mate."

"I could've f****** killed them" 😳

This was Liam Lawson’s POV when two F1 marshals ran across the track, narrowly avoiding being hit at the #MexicoGP ☠️pic.twitter.com/4coiZFdhZk

— DW Sports (@dw_sports) October 27, 2025

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said in a statement that while an investigation remained ongoing, Lawson was in the clear.

"Having analysed the telemetry from the incident, we can confirm that... Liam Lawson slowed appropriately and reacted correctly to the double yellow flags displayed in the area," it said.

The statement added that the rookie had braked earlier than in other laps and passed "significantly slower than racing speed into turn one.

"He is not at fault in this incident," it said.

🗣️ Lawson "slowed appropriately and reacted correctly to the double yellow flags displayed in the area."

The FIA's response after Liam Lawson was criticised by the Mexican motorsport authority for the marshal near-miss in Mexico: pic.twitter.com/dCOMORceRJ

— The Race (@wearetherace) October 31, 2025

A statement from the Mexican Automobile Club (OMDAI) earlier in the week had highlighted that Lawson did not change his line despite the marshals being visible on track and knowing he needed to take extreme precautions.

Onboard footage had suggested he saw the marshals, who were collecting debris from an earlier collision, only at the last moment after turning into the right-hander.

Media reports had interpreted the OMDAI statement as putting blame on Lawson.

The FIA said a situation with marshals on track with oncoming cars was not something anyone wanted to see and it was natural the incident would provoke concern and debate.

"It is fortunate this incident did not result in any serious consequences but we are conducting an internal investigation to understand exactly what happened and to identify any areas where procedures can be improved," it added.

"As with all serious incidents, the full analysis will take some time," it added, citing the need to collect and review evidence in multiple languages.

The governing body thanked the marshals, who are volunteers, for their professionalism and dedication.

Formula One, its ex-boss Bernie Ecclestone and the governing FIA on Wednesday sought to throw out Felipe Massa's lawsuit over the 2008 world championship, arguing the former Ferrari driver's mistakes were what cost the Brazilian the title.

Massa is suing at London's High Court for a declaration that he should have won the 2008 championship, which he lost to Lewis Hamilton by a single point, and is seeking around 64 million pounds ($85.9 million) plus interest.

His case turns on the "crashgate" scandal at the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, which Massa was leading from pole position when fellow Brazilian Nelson Piquet Jr crashed to try and help his Renault teammate Fernando Alonso, who won the race.

Piquet in 2009 revealed he had been ordered to crash by team bosses, who were subsequently banned. Massa's lawyers say Ecclestone already knew the crash was deliberate and Ecclestone and then-FIA president Max Mosley failed to investigate it.

Massa argues the results of the Singapore Grand Prix – which Hamilton finished third, scoring six points – should have been annulled with the result that he would have won the title.

Lawyers for F1, Ecclestone and the FIA, however, say the case was brought too late and argue Massa and Ferrari's errors in Singapore – including a disastrous pitstop in which Massa accidentally knocked down a crew member – are the reason he lost the race and ultimately the championship.

MASSA IN COURT FOR CRUCIAL HEARING

Massa sat in the public gallery for the first day of a three-day hearing and smiled as Ecclestone's lawyer David Quest told the court Massa had "performed very poorly" in Singapore, where he finished 13th and scored no points.

He filed the case last year, relying on comments made by Ecclestone in an interview with F1 Insider in 2023 when he said he and Mosley knew Piquet crashed deliberately and did nothing to "protect the sport and save it from a huge scandal".

Quest said former F1 supremo Ecclestone, who turned 95 on Tuesday, "does not remember giving this interview".

The defendants argue Massa knew enough to sue in 2008 and 2009, meaning the case should be thrown out as having been brought too late.

They also say the declaration Massa seeks is unfair to Hamilton, whose 2008 title was the first of a joint-record seven world championships and is not a party to the litigation.

Hamilton clinched the championship from Massa after overtaking Toyota's Timo Glock for fifth place on the last lap of the season's last race, won by Massa, in Brazil.

Massa did not win again after 2008, suffering a near-fatal head injury at the 2009 Hungarian Grand Prix. He retired in 2017.

His lawyers say Massa did not know enough to bring a lawsuit until 2023, when Ecclestone's interview suggested the FIA knew Piquet crashed deliberately and decided not to investigate.

The hearing is expected to conclude on Friday with a ruling likely at a later date.

Aston Martin confirmed that American Jak Crawford will serve as the Formula 1 team's third driver for the 2026 season.

A member of the team's development program since 2024 after a stint as a Red Bull F1 junior, Crawford is currently second in a tight Formula 2 battle this season, 19 points behind Leonardo Fornaroli with two races remaining.

The 20-year-old North Carolina native also made his F1 grand prix weekend debut in an FP1 appearance in Mexico City last week.

Jak Crawford will become the team's Third Driver for the 2026 Formula One season.

The role sees Jak act as the team's reserve driver at all races next season. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/luyQ4uVeWS

— Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team (@AstonMartinF1) October 28, 2025

"I'm incredibly proud to be confirmed as the Third Driver for 2026," Crawford said. "It's a huge moment in my journey with Aston Martin and a big motivation to keep learning and contributing.

"Over the past two seasons, I've learned so much from being in the Formula 1 environment, both at the factory and trackside. I'll be doing everything I can to support the team and continue developing as a driver."

Crawford will serve as the reserve driver behind Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, replacing Felipe Drugovich in the position.

"It is great to see Jak progress to become our Third Driver for 2026," team principal Andy Cowell said. "Over the past two years, he has shown his value as a key member of our driver squad and built up a valuable bank of experience and test mileage.

"Jak has impressed in the simulator, having completed regular sessions at the AMR Technology Campus to support our race operations and car development. Jak's performances in Formula 2 have also been outstanding, and we are excited to continue supporting his growth as he takes on a bigger role."

Aston Martin committed a "very minor" procedural breach of Formula One's cost cap regulations last year due to exceptional circumstances but will face no penalties, the sport's governing body said on Tuesday.

The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said the other nine teams and five engine manufacturers were all in compliance, despite speculation last week that a more substantial breach might be announced.

The FIA said the breach, involving a failure to submit signed versions of its audited annual financial statements by a March deadline, was due to unpredictable circumstances outside the team's control.

Significantly, Aston Martin had not exceeded the cost cap level.

The Silverstone-based team had acted cooperatively and in good faith, added the FIA, entering an Accepted Breach Agreement last month to resolve the matter.

"The Cost Cap Administration confirm that there is no accusation or evidence that AMR has sought or obtained any undue advantage as a result of the breach," the FIA said.

Speculation about a team being in breach of the cost cap had mounted after the FIA was late publishing the accounts for the 2024 season.

Confirmation of teams' compliance had come much earlier in previous years.