Sprint Race Report - Norris wins sprint

By Mark Karp

Lando Norris won the Brazilian GP Sprint race in his McLaren-Mercedes, over his team mate Oscar Piastri, by 0.593s. Piastri who started from pole and lead most of the race before letting Norris past on lap 22, just before a Virtual Safety car came out.

Max Verstappen in the Red Bull-Honda finished third 1.497 seconds behind the winner.

Charles Leclerc (5.656s) in the Ferrari was fourth, followed by his team mate Carlos Sainz (7.224s) in fifth, George Russell (12.475s) in the Mercedes GP in sixth, Pierre Gasly (18.161s) in the Alpine-Renault in seventh, and Sergio Perez (18.717s) in the second Red Bull taking the final point.

Liam Lawson (20.773s) was ninth, Alex Albon (24.606s) in the Williams-Mercedes was tenth, and Lewis Hamilton was 11th.

Before the start Piastri and Norris are on the front row, all drivers starting on medium tyres.

The drivers took the grid, and the lights went out, and Piastri takes the lead with Norris behind, over Leclerc, Verstappen, Sainz, Russell, Gasly Lawson Hulkenberg and Bearman in tenth. Hamilton dropping to 14th.

Norris sets fast lap at 1m12.274s.

Verstappen looks to pass Leclerc, but can’t get it done.

On lap 2 Leclerc set fast lap at 1m11.914s.

At lap 5 Piastri leads Norris, Leclerc, Verstappen, Sainz. Russell, Gasly, Lawson, Hulkenberg and Bearman in tenth.

On lap 5 Verstappen sets fast lap at 1m11.906s.

Piastri leads Norris by 1.3 seconds.

On lap 9 Bearman passes Hulkenberg for ninth. Perez passes Hulkenberg for tenth.

On lap 12 Perez passes Bearman for ninth.

At lap 12 Piastri leads Norris by 1.1 seconds, followed by Leclerc, Verstappen, Sainz, Russell, Gasly, Lawson, Perez and Bearman in tenth.

On lap 15 Lawson and Perez are battling for eighth.

On lap 17 Piastri sets fast lap at 1m11.783s.

On lap 18 Verstappen passes Leclerc for third place in the DRS zone.

McLaren says they are planning to let Norris past Piastri on the final lap.

On lap 20 Perez passes Lawson for eighth place.

Hamilton passes Colapinto for 12.

On lap 21 Hulkenberg pulls off the side of the track, the yellow flag is waving.

On lap 22 Piastri lets Norris pass for the lead.

Verstappen is close to Piastri, and the Virtual Safety car is deployed. The cars slow to allow Hulkenberg’s car to be removed.

On lap 23 Norris leads Piastri, Verstappen, Leclerc, Sainz, Russell, Gasly, Perez, Lawson and Albon in tenth.

Verstappen is concerned that Piastri is backing up too far behind Norris.

On the start of lap 24 the Virtual Safety car is off, and Verstappen tries to pass Piastri, but can’t get it done.

Perez sets fastest lap on the final lap at 1m11.678s.