23 November 2025 | Formula 1
Summary
Max Verstappen won the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix. He finished ahead of Lando Norris by a comfortable margin. George Russell completed the podium.
Key points
- Verstappen secured victory for Red Bull.
- Norris finished second, 20.7 seconds behind.
- Russell finished third, 23.5 seconds behind.
- Oscar Piastri and Kimi Antonelli followed shortly afterwards.
- Some riders lost a lap; others rode home with a considerable deficit.
- Three drivers did not finish the race.
Full results Las Vegas Grand Prix 2025
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- Lando Norris (McLaren) +20.7 seconds
- George Russell (Mercedes) +23.5 seconds
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) +27.6 seconds
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) +30.4 seconds
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) +30.6 seconds
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) +34.9 seconds
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) +45.2 seconds
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) +51.1 seconds
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) +59.3 seconds
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) +60.6 seconds
- Ollie Bearman (Haas) +70.5 seconds
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) +85.3 seconds
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) +86.9 seconds
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) +91.7 seconds
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) +1 lap
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine) +1 lap
Dropouts
DNF: Alex Albon (Williams), Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber), Lance Stroll (Aston Martin).
Just briefly
Verstappen was once again strong at the front. McLaren showed speed with two top five places. Mercedes took a podium place. The results show different strategies and performances. Fans were treated to a clear race without any major incidents among the leaders.
Nov 17, 2025 | Formula 1
McLaren increases stake in F1 Academy
McLaren is putting two cars into the F1 Academy next season. This is a clear expansion of their female talent programme. The team is thus strengthening its driver development line-up.
Riders and plans
Ella Lloyd remains on board for a second season in the F1 Academy. She took one win this year and is currently third in the championship.
New to the F1 Academy is Ella Stevens. She belongs to the McLaren Driver Development programme. Stevens finished second in the British KZ2 karting championship this year. She was also fastest in the first F1A rookie test. She will make the move to single-seaters in 2026.
In addition, 14-year-old Ella Hakkinen joins the McLaren programme. She is the daughter of two-time world champion Mika Häkkinen. Hakkinen is not yet stepping directly into cars. McLaren sees this as a two-year preparation path towards single-seaters in 2027.
- Both McLaren cars are operated by Rodin Motorsport.
- The second car will run under the name F1 Academy McLaren Oxagon.
- Stevens: KZ2 runner-up and best in rookie test; single-seaters from 2026.
- Lloyd: one win and currently third in the standings.
- Hakkinen: 14 years, two years of preparation, not expected in single-seaters until 2027.
Broader policies and rules
Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, says there is still work to do to get more women into motorsport. He hopes McLaren's efforts will send a signal to female karters, drivers, mechanics, engineers, marketers and accountants. The goal is clear: keep the sport open and maintain its recent growth.
It was also recently confirmed that all 10 Formula 1 teams have renewed their multi-year support for the F1 Academy. Cadillac, which will compete in Formula 1 in 2026, has indicated it will also become a sponsor on the F1 Academy grid in 2027.
In addition, a rule about driver terms is changing. Until now, there was a maximum participation of two seasons in the F1 Academy. From 2027, drivers who participated in 2025 and 2026 will get an exception to drive a third season. This should ensure a wider talent pool.
What does this mean?
McLaren is now structurally investing in different phases of development: experienced talent (Lloyd), fast karters who move on (Stevens) and young drivers who are slowly being groomed (Hakkinen). Whether this is successful will be seen in the coming seasons. For now, the intention is clear: more space and opportunities for women in motorsport.
Nov 14, 2025 | Formula 1
What will change for the bolides?
The FIA is introducing a new rule for 2026. Teams must now cover at least 55% of the car's surface with paint or stickers. That 55% applies when looking at the car from the side and top. Large bare surfaces with visible carbon are no longer allowed. The aim is simple: to make the cars more distinct from each other and make the field more visually interesting.
Why this measure?
Teams often used bare carbon in recent years. That saves weight. And saving weight is important. For the new rulebook, the minimum weight of cars will be reduced next year. As a result, some teams tried to make even more extreme weight savings. The new colour rule should put a brake on that, ensuring more appearance on the grid.
Other topics discussed
Rider numbers
The committee talked about fixed driver numbers, a system that has been in place since 2014. There is now agreement that drivers will be allowed to change numbers during their careers. The exact terms have yet to be worked out.
Aerodynamic test restrictions (ATR)
The ATR determines how many wind tunnel and CFD tests a team is allowed to do. Those limits depend on the position in the previous season's constructors' championship. The rules are being revised. The aim is to adapt F1 to modern processing and simulation, but without driving costs out of control.
Pit stop obligation and cooling systems
It was briefly discussed whether there should be a mandatory strategy with two pit stops. No decision was taken. This topic will be addressed again next year. Ideas for redesigning driver cooling systems were also brought in. These will be investigated further.
Motor usage and cost cap
No decision was taken on ambiguity around engine changes and the cost cap. One team had asked for clarification after a race where an engine was replaced. They want to know whether engine changes that lead to performance gains are within the cost ceiling. This point was not discussed now.
Key points at a glance
- From 2026, at least 55% of the bodywork must be painted or stickered.
- Goal: better visual recognition between cars.
- Rule stems partly from concerns about weight saving via bare carbon.
- Drivers may be allowed to change their permanent number during their career.
- ATR rules are adapted to modern simulation techniques, with cost monitoring.
- Mandatory two pit stops were discussed but not introduced; continuation in 2026.
The new rules show that regulation is not only about performance, but also about presentation and fairness. More details will follow after further elaboration and official publications.
Nov 12, 2025 | Formula 1
Intro
Audi has shown a new concept livery for its first Formula 1 car. The unveiling took place in Munich. It is the R26 Concept, a preview of the look of the car that will appear on the grid in 2026.
What exactly was presented?
The concept displays a two-part colour scheme. The front follows the recently introduced Concept C with an all-titanium look. The rear is finished in carbon black with accents in a new Audi red hue. The red colour is used selectively, including for the famous Audi rings.
Historical reference
The design references Audi's racing past. Part of the inspiration comes from the Auto Union Type C. Those cars were important in the brand's pre-history.
Planning and test programme
Audi and the former Sauber team have a tight schedule. The team name officially changes on 1 January. The real R26 will be presented later that month.
The first runs will take place shortly afterwards. The car first runs behind closed doors during a joint test in Barcelona. This will be followed by official pre-season tests in front of the public.
- Official rebranding: 1 January
- Launch real R26: later in January
- First on-track runs: private collective test in Barcelona
- Colour scheme: titanium front, carbon black rear, selective Audi red
Brand guide and sponsors
The concept presentation focused on Audi itself. No logos of the expected partners were visible. Names such as Revolut, bp and Adidas were missing. References to the Qatar Investment Authority were also missing. This suggests that Audi wants to put the brand identity at the centre first.
Why this matters
Audi wants to make a strong visual impression. Massimo Frascella, Chief Creative Officer, said the goal is to have the most striking car on the grid. Off the track, Audi also wants to be the boldest brand.
According to CEO Gernot Döllner, design is a core part of Audi's DNA. The Concept C already gave a glimpse of its future design style. The Formula 1 car will be the second concrete example of that new philosophy.
Lock
The R26 Concept highlights Audi's commitment to linking the F1 approach to its broader brand strategy. The focus is on recognisability and design. The next few months will show how that translates to the real racing car and the racing wheel on the track.
Nov 12, 2025 | Formula 1
Verstappen acknowledges mistake in Barcelona and explains
Max Verstappen calls the Barcelona incident the only criticism of his 2025 season. In an interview, he says he briefly lost control. That moment led to contact with George Russell and a penalty.
What happened during the restart
The race restarted after a safety car. Verstappen had to take hard tyres after a pit stop. At the last corner, he made a mistake that allowed Charles Leclerc to pass him. Leclerc slid to the inside in the process, resulting in contact between the wheels.
At Turn 1, Russell went on the attack. Verstappen went into the foothills and was later instructed to return the spot. He briefly let off the throttle, but when Russell was in front of him, Verstappen went to attack on the inside at Turn 5. In the process, he hit the left side of Russell's car.
Race control gave Verstappen a 10-second time penalty. As a result, he dropped from fifth on the track to ninth in the final standings after the finish.
Why Verstappen reacted the way he did
Verstappen says it mostly stemmed from frustration. He finds it difficult to leave the track without the feeling of having tried everything. ‘I cannot drive at 80 per cent,’ he said. When too much is against him, he gets angry with himself. That was the case in Barcelona.
He calls it a learning point. Such moments are rare, he expects, and it is something he will learn from and get better at.
- Verstappen accepts the mistake and calls it an exception.
- He received a 10-second penalty and lost four places.
- He stresses that he always wants to give his all and is strict with himself on that.
Place in the bigger picture of the season
Apart from Barcelona, Verstappen is satisfied with his season. Especially in qualifying, he sees progress. He says he has mostly made the most of the available material.
This season also saw other tricky weekends. Consider Silverstone, where the wet weather made his trimmed rear wing disadvantageous. It did not work well in Hungary either and he finished further back. Still, he continues to feel that the team and he often enough got the best out of the Red Bull RB21.
Self-reflection and outlook
Verstappen shows rare candour by publicly admitting where he went wrong. He says his biggest weakness is that he sometimes reacts emotionally when a lot is against him. He is working on it and expects such points to be few and far between.
In the end, his conclusion is positive. He is satisfied with his performance and wants to keep improving, especially in dealing with frustration during races.
Nov 11, 2025 | Formula 1
Norris grabs lead with perfect weekend
Lando Norris experienced the perfect race weekend in Brazil. He won both the sprint and the main race. In doing so, he took maximum points. In contrast, his teammate and title rival lost ground. Two races ago, Oscar Piastri was still leading the championship. After Interlagos, Norris is now 24 points ahead.
Why this moment is so important
The season had many shifting phases between the three contenders. Yet Norris seems to be in a good flow at the moment. Analysts call his confidence clearer than earlier this year. He now has a buffer that gives him air, even if it is not yet decided.
What does that lead mean practically?
With three grands prix and one sprint to go, Norris no longer needs a race win to become champion; in theory, he can make it without finishing first again. But that all depends on his performance and a bit of luck. One bad weekend could change everything.
Can Piastri still come back?
Oscar Piastri is definitely not out of the championship yet. There are still 83 points to be earned. That is enough to even out the difference. Yet Piastri suffered a major blow this weekend. He made a mistake in the sprint and crashed. On Sunday, he got a 10-second time penalty after a restart incident in which another driver crashed out. That penalty cost him a lot of points.
Analysts believe that penalty weighed heavily on his chances. Some evaluators called it a racing incident. Others said the manoeuvre did not comply with the rules for claiming racing space. Whatever you call it, it was a defining moment in the title race.
Verstappens chances dwindle
Max Verstappen made little progress from a championship point of view. He had to start from the pit lane because of a new power source and therefore ran big risks. Nevertheless, he later drove to a handsome third place. That again showed his qualities. But he is still 49 points behind Norris.
The reality is that Verstappen now needs a lot of luck. To still become champion, he needs to score a lot of points multiple times and hope for bad luck at both McLarens. That is not impossible, but unlikely.
Key figures at a glance
- Norris' lead over Piastri: 24 points
- Points still to be earned: 83 (three grands prix plus one sprint)
- Verstappen's gap to Norris: 49 points
- Piastri received a 10-second penalty after a restart incident
What remains to be done?
Above all, Norris needs to keep his focus. He has experience with pressure and can stay calm. Three flawless weekends and a bit of luck could be enough to clinch the championship. Piastri needs to peak again soon. He needs to avoid risks and score maximum points. Verstappen has the least margin: he needs almost everything with him to get back in contention.
In short: Norris is in an excellent position, but world titles rarely fall without a fight. The remaining races remain crucial.
Nov 10, 2025 | Formula 1
What went wrong for Oscar Piastri at Interlagos
Oscar Piastri had a tough weekend in Brazil. His sprint crash and 10-second penalty in the race made matters worse. That penalty followed a collision with Kimi Antonelli on the early restart. Yet even without those incidents, Piastri seemed unable to overtake teammate Lando Norris. Norris took both pole and victory.
Speed changed after sprint
Piastri was still fast on Friday. Then the pace subsided. In the sprint, he was competitive and fought for second place. The crash stopped that battle. Later in the weekend, he complained of unusual tyre behaviour. According to him, the soft tyre felt almost no better than the medium. The grip was simply not there properly.
New drainage grooves on the circuit
Organisers had grooves cut into the asphalt at several parts of the circuit. This was done to drain water better after last year's problems. The grooves were not only on straights, but also in places where tyres need grip. That is unusual for this kind of modification.
The grooves had two main effects. First, tyres did not touch the road surface as well. The contact patch became smaller. That caused more slippage and faster wear. Second, it gave teams new tuning problems. The underside of the car became more sensitive to oscillations over the grooves.
Ride height proved crucial
Modern Formula 1 cars get a lot of speed from the airflow under the car. Consistent airflow and a low ride height help with that. Grooves interfered with that stability. If a car rolled over an edge, the wear of the board under the car accelerated. In some teams, that wear became so great that there was a risk of disqualification for an entire race distance.
Teams sometimes had to raise the ride height to avoid risk. That reduces downforce. Less downforce means less grip. McLaren chose to raise the ride height after the sprint as a precaution. That came at the expense of performance. Andrea Stella said Interlagos is very sensitive to ride height, so this track was anomalous in these conditions.
Consequences for Piastri and the championship
All these minor drawbacks put Piastri further behind. The combination of tyre problems and less downforce did not suit his driving style. Lando Norris seems to handle a sliding car better. As a result, he benefited in Brazil. After the race weekend, Piastri is 24 points behind Norris with three races to go.
- Grooves reduce tyre contact and increase wear.
- Grooves cause underflow irregularities and planks wear.
- Higher ride heights give less downforce and therefore less grip.
Piastri acknowledges he needs to learn to adapt. His driving style from the beginning of the season worked well. Now he needs to add more variety to his approach. He hopes that the American circuit in Las Vegas will suit him better again and that he will regain confidence there.
Nov 9, 2025 | Formula 1
Nightmare in Brazil
Lewis Hamilton had a weekend to forget in Brazil. He did not qualify for Q3 and was disadvantaged early in the race. At the first corner, he hit Carlos Sainz's Williams. Later, he tapped Franco Colapinto's Alpine, giving him a five-second penalty and losing a lot of downforce.
After serving that penalty, Ferrari decided to recall the car. This prevented the team from turning the penalty into a grid penalty for the next race in Las Vegas. Hamilton had to abandon the race early.
According to the stewards, what happened?
The stewards found Hamilton ‘fully responsible’ for the collision with Colapinto. Yet there were extenuating circumstances. Therefore, the standard penalty of 10 seconds was reduced to five seconds. The reason: the difference in speed was small, the contact light and there was no immediate visible sporting consequence for the other car.
Hamilton himself said Colapinto ’moved at the same time’, leading to the collision. That led to discussion between Hamilton and his race engineer about continuing or stopping.
Why Ferrari recalled the car
Team boss Fred Vasseur explained that the Ferrari lost a huge amount of downforce. He remained uncertain whether that damage came from the collision with Sainz or because Hamilton's front wing ended up under the Alpine. It could also be a combination of both damages.
Ferrari chose to stall the car to save the engine for the last three races of 2025. Vasseur: If you are driving at the back and lack roughly 35 to 40 points of downforce, there is no point in putting unnecessary strain on the engine.
Hamilton on the toll of the season
Hamilton called his first season at Ferrari ‘a nightmare’ that has persisted for some time. He stressed that the move to the team was a dream, but the results keep dampening that feeling.
He said he felt terrible for the team. He praised everyone's efforts and felt it was painful to leave without a result. He took responsibility for his qualification and promised to fight back.
Hamilton is trying to stay positive. He wants to keep training and working hard with the team. He believes something good can come out of this difficult period and hopes the unlucky season is now largely behind them.
Key points
- Q2-out for Hamilton during qualifying.
- Contact with Sainz in Turn 1 on the opening lap.
- Tap with Colapinto led to five-second penalty (original 10s).
- Stewards found Hamilton responsible, but called the touch light.
- Ferrari withdrew the car to save the engine for the final three races of 2025.
Hamilton wants to come back stronger soon. The next chance to take points is the race in Las Vegas.
Nov 9, 2025 | Formula 1
Norris dominant, title in his hands
Lando Norris won again in Brazil. He was the strongest this weekend. He picked up two poles and two wins. In total, he scored 33 points. That gives him a very strong starting position in the championship. It now seems mostly up to him to lose the title yet.
The situation around Piastri
What happened
Oscar Piastri received a 10-second time penalty after contact in the race. The collision occurred after a poor restart by Antonelli. Antonelli was trapped on the outside by Leclerc. Piastri dived inside to grab a gap. As Antonelli closed slightly, Piastri tried to brake harder and stalled. That led to contact.
Was the punishment justified?
Many people think the punishment is too harsh. Three autos were involved in the incident. This makes it difficult to blame anyone entirely. The stewards pointed to locking brakes on Piastri. But without Leclerc's position and Antonelli's poor restart, the accident would probably have been different. Many commentators called it a racing incident.
In addition, Piastri was also unlucky in the sprint earlier. He went off track on a wet stretch. That wet track was partly caused by Norris pulling water out of the kerb. The whole weekend ended up costing Piastri 23 championship points compared to his teammate.
Verstappen's impressive remontada
Max Verstappen started the Grand Prix from the pit lane. Nevertheless, he drove to the podium. This was possible mainly thanks to a brand new engine and a smart strategic approach by his team. On the track, he had a lot of speed, especially at high speeds. This allowed him to pass several competitors and gain many places in the first corner. The comeback reminded some of Lewis Hamilton's strong performance in 2021.
Red Bull also deserves credit. The adjustments between Saturday and Sunday gave Verstappen the chance to limit maximum damage. The combination of extra power and a thoughtful strategy eventually earned him P3.
What this means for the championship
The implications of this weekend are huge. The gap to Norris has now become clear: Piastri is no longer on top. There are plenty of points ahead in the remaining races, but Norris has the initiative. Verstappen remains a threat as long as he competes mathematically.
Some analysts see parallels with Mark Webber's season in 2010. Then, too, a title contender lost part of his lead at the end due to bad luck and incidents. For Piastri, this is a warning signal: he needs to return to stable performance soon.
Main conclusions
- Norris had a dominant weekend and is much firmer in the championship.
- The penalty for Piastri is controversial; many people are calling it a racing incident.
- Verstappen showed an impressive comeback with a new engine and clever strategy.
- There are still points to be won, so the championship is not over yet, but Norris has the best papers now.
Nov 9, 2025 | Formula 1
Penalties and consequences at Interlagos
Oscar Piastri received a 10-second time penalty and two penalty points. The penalty followed a collision at the restart after the safety car at Interlagos. He initially appeared to cross the line in second place. The penalty caused him to drop to spot five.
What exactly happened?
The collision occurred at Turn 1. Piastri was trying to move from fourth to second place. He pushed past Kimi Antonelli on the inside. In the process, the two hit each other.
Antonelli then made contact with Charles Leclerc. Leclerc had to abandon his race as a result. Race control determined that Piastri was entirely responsible for the collision.
Why was he found guilty?
The stewards enforced the guidelines for overtaking on the inside. Those rules say the attacking driver must have sufficient overlap before and at the apex point. Piastri did not meet that, according to them. His front axle was not next to Antonelli's mirror at the right time.
Piastri braked and locked his wheels as he tried to avoid hitting Antonelli. He did not succeed and contact ensued. That collision resulted in Antonelli being spun away and Leclerc getting involved.
Piastri's reaction
Piastri said after the race that he did not know where to go. He indicated that he would not have done anything else. According to him, going further in was too ambitious. He stated that he had already gone as far to the left as possible.
- Time penalty: 10 seconds
- Penalty points: 2
- Results after penalty: fifth place
- Consequence: Leclerc dropped out
Impact on the championship
The penalty cost Piastri valuable points. He lost ground on both Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. Norris won the grand prix. Verstappen finished third after starting from the pits.
In short: the stewards' decision and the guidelines applied determined the final result. Piastri is left with questions, but the penalty stood.
Nov 9, 2025 | Formula 1
Norris solidifies championship lead
Lando Norris won the Brazilian Grand Prix. He thus increases his lead in the world championship. It was a strong and solid race by McLaren.
Verstappen fights his way back to the podium
Max Verstappen made an impressive comeback. He came back to place three after having problems earlier. Kimi Antonelli grabbed second place, finishing 10.3 seconds behind Norris.
Key facts from the race
- Winner: Lando Norris (McLaren).
- Second: Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), at 10.3 seconds.
- Third: Max Verstappen (Red Bull), at 10.7 seconds.
Full top results
- 1. Lando Norris (McLaren)
- 2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) - at 10.3 seconds
- 3. Max Verstappen (Red Bull) - at 10.7 seconds
- 4. George Russell (Mercedes) - at 15.2 seconds
- 5. Oscar Piastri (McLaren) - at 15.7 seconds
- 6. Ollie Bearman (Haas) - at 29.6 seconds
- 7. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) - at 52.6 seconds
- 8. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) - at 52.8 seconds
- 9. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) - at 53.3 seconds
- 10. Pierre Gasly (Alpine) - at 53.9 seconds
- 11. Alex Albon (Williams) - at 54.1 seconds
- 12. Esteban Ocon (Haas) - at 54.6 seconds
- 13. Carlos Sainz (Williams) - at 55.4 seconds
- 14. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) - at 55.7 seconds
- 15. Franco Colapinto (Alpine) - at 57.7 seconds
- 16. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) - at 58.2 seconds
- 17. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) - at 69.1 seconds
Dropouts
There were three dropouts in the race:
- Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber) - DNF
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) - DNF
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) - DNF
What does this mean for the championship?
With this win, Norris consolidates his position in the standings. Verstappen does pick up valuable points with his recovery to the podium. The battle for the title remains exciting.
Nov 9, 2025 | Formula 1
Key points of the qualification
Lando Norris was fastest in qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos. His fastest lap was 1m09.511s. It was a tight session. Many drivers were within a few tenths.
- Kimi Antonelli finished second, 0.174s behind Norris.
- Charles Leclerc was third with 1m09.805s.
- Notable: young drivers were well up front, such as Isack Hadjar and Liam Lawson.
Full qualification results
- Lando Norris (McLaren) 1m09.511s
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) 1m09.685s
- Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 1m09.805s
- Oscar Piastri (McLaren) 1m09.886s
- Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls) 1m09.931s
- George Russell (Mercedes) 1m09.942s
- Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) 1m09.962s
- Ollie Bearman (Haas) 1m09.977s
- Pierre Gasly (Alpine) 1m10.002s
- Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber) 1m10.039s
- Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin) 1m10.001s
- Alex Albon (Williams) 1m10.053s
- Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari) 1m10.100s
- Lance Stroll (Aston Martin) 1m10.161s
- Carlos Sainz (Williams) 1m10.472s
- Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 1m10.403s
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) 1m10.438s
- Franco Colapinto (Alpine) 1m10.632s
- Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull) 1m10.711s
No time: Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber).
Brief analysis
The differences were small. A few hundredths determined the order. McLaren and Mercedes were well placed. Ferrari and Racing Bulls were also competitive. The starting grid promises an exciting race.
Nov 9, 2025 | Formula 1
Summary
Lando Norris starts from pole position in São Paulo. Kimi Antonelli occupies the other spot on the front row of the grid. Max Verstappen has to come a long way. He starts from spot sixteen.
Starting line-up Brazilian Grand Prix
- 1. Lando Norris (McLaren)
- 2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
- 3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
- 4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
- 5. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
- 6. George Russell (Mercedes)
- 7. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
- 8. Ollie Bearman (Haas)
- 9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
- 10. Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber)
- 11. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
- 12. Alex Albon (Williams)
- 13. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
- 14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
- 15. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
- 16. Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
- 17. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
- 18. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
- 19. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
- 20. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)
Key areas of concern
The front row of the grid is surprising. McLaren and Mercedes are in front. That could determine the opening phase.
Verstappen needs to make up a lot of places. His starting position makes strategy crucial. Teams will need smart tyre choices and pit stops.
Other notable positions include. Lewis Hamilton starts from place thirteen with Ferrari. Carlos Sainz is in fifteen for Williams. Those put the cards differently than expected.
What to expect during the race
The race will be busy early. Lots of overtaking is likely, especially around the chicanes. Team orders and pit strategies will carry extra weight.
Watch out for drivers who overtake often and those with strong long-distance pace. These can benefit from the chaos in the midfield.
Nov 8, 2025 | Formula 1
What happened
Red Bull took a bold set-up decision between sprint and qualifying. The aim was to find more speed. Instead, it went wrong. Max Verstappen and his teammate were eliminated as early as Q1. For the first time in his Formula 1 career, Verstappen was stranded on pure pace on the first lap.
Direct championship implications
Verstappen suffered from poor driving dynamics in the sprint earlier in the day. He finished fifth and lost ground on the leader. After the disappointing qualifying, the points deficit continued to mount. The title race is now under a lot of pressure.
Where did it go wrong?
The team made significant adjustments. They used data from the set-up experiments of Yuki Tsunoda, who had started the sprint from the pitlane. Yet the change did not bring any improvement. The problems changed from poor suspension to excessive sliding.
- Faulty set-up changes between sprint and qualifying.
- Data derived from experiments used, but insufficiently applicable.
- The car started to slide too much instead of becoming more stable.
- Several bottom plates were tested with no obvious improvement.
Technical details and handling
Verstappen lost time mainly in corners with speeds between 100 and 200 km/h. His minimum speed was clearly lower in turns 1, 4 and 12. He also lost time due to a less sharp braking response in turn 9 and had less effective throttle response afterwards. That pattern made the lap consistently slower.
Reaction within the team
Team boss Laurent Mekies acknowledged that the changes were a risk. The aim was to get the car back into a window where it could fight more. That did not work out. Mekies indicated that sometimes risks are necessary, but this time it backfired. He called the adjustments not subtle fine-tuning, but substantial changes.
What does this mean for the race?
With the poor qualifying, Verstappen faces a difficult task on Sunday. There is currently no easy technical direction to quickly improve the car for the race. A start from the pitlane or other interventions could be considered, but first the team needs to analyse exactly what went wrong.
In a nutshell
The combination of bold set-up choices and unpredictable driving led to a dramatic qualifying session for Red Bull. Verstappen could not push and had to deliberately understeer the car to avoid incidents. The team faces the task of learning quickly from this mistake if they want to maintain the title race.
Nov 8, 2025 | Formula 1
Summary
Lando Norris captured a convincing pole position for the Brazilian Grand Prix. Oscar Piastri will start fourth later. Max Verstappen was already eliminated in Q1.
Norris made a mistake in his first Q3 attempt with a blocking at Turn 1. As a result, he fell back to place 10. Piastri was briefly on provisional pole. On his last fast lap, Norris recovered. He took pole by a margin of 0.174 seconds over Kimi Antonelli.
Charles Leclerc finished third. Piastri dropped back on his second fast lap and got no further than P4. Isack Hadjar finished handsomely fifth for Racing Bulls. George Russell finished sixth, after complaining of too little grip many times during qualifying. Russell tried with mediums on the final run, but it did not help.
Liam Lawson was seventh and Ollie Bearman eighth. Bearman was strong in Q1 and Q2 and was fast on his first Q3 lap, but others just rode better closing laps. Pierre Gasly and Nico Hülkenberg completed the top ten. Remarkably, neither Lewis Hamilton with Ferrari nor a Red Bull were in that top ten.
Nov 8, 2025 | Formula 1
Serious crash on last lap
Gabriel Bortoleto was badly damaged on the last lap of the sprint in Brazil. He was trying to overtake Alex Albon for tenth place. As he approached Williams at Turn 1, he went inside. Part of the track was still damp. As a result, he immediately lost control of his Sauber.
The car slammed nose first against the inside barrier and shot back across the track, narrowly missing Albon. This was followed by a second, much harder hit on the outside. The car tipped over and came to a halt in the run-out lane outside Turn 1. Bortoleto immediately reported to his team that he was okay.
Medical checks: green light
As a precaution, Bortoleto received checks at the medical centre. He was found to have no injuries and was given the green light. Franco Colapinto, who was involved in a crash at Turn 3 on lap six, was also examined and is fine.
Other incidents and implications for teams
On lap six, Nico Hülkenberg also lost control after a wet kerb at the exit of Turn 2 and ended up in the foul in Turn 3. Hülkenberg was able to resume the race, but finished at the back.
On the last lap, Albon dropped down the field as Bortoleto's front wing got stuck in his car. As a result, both Sauber and Alpine are under time pressure to repair damaged cars before Grand Prix qualifying.
Key facts
- Bortoleto crashed on the last lap but is unhurt after medical checks.
- Nico Hülkenberg crashed on lap six and was later able to return.
- Franco Colapinto was also examined and appeared unhurt.
- Albon lost positions as Bortoleto's front wing stuck in his car.
- Sauber and Alpine must make quick repairs before qualifying.
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