Race Notes - Norris wins Brazilian GP

By Mark Karp

Lando Norris in his McLaren-Mercedes won the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos, over Kimi Antonelli in his Mercedes GP by 10.388 seconds.

Max Verstappen in his Red Bull-Honda finished third, after starting in the pitlane in 19th, place, 10.750 seconds behind the winner.

Norris now lead the Drivers’ Championship by 24 points over Oscar Piastri

George Russell (15.267s) in the second Mercedes finished fourth, followed by Oscar Piastri (15.749s) in the second McLaren was fifth, Oliver Bearman (29.630s) in the Haas-Ferrari was sixth, Liam Lawson (52.642s) in the Racing Bulls-Honda was seventh, Nico Hulkenberg (53.324s) in the Sauber-Ferrari was ninth, and Pierre Gasly (53.914s) in the Alpine-Renault took the final point with tenth.

Before the start, as the cars started coming to the grid drops of rain were falling.

Norris starts on pole with Antonelli alongside on the row 1, Charles Leclerc and Piastri on row 2, Hadjar and Russell on row 3, Lawson and Bearman on row 4, and Gasly and Hulkenberg rounding out the top ten - Fernando Alonso 11th, Lewis Hamilton 13th, and Verstappen starting from the pitlane.

Norris, Leclerc, Piastri, Russell and Hulkenberg on mediums, while Antonelli, Hadjar, Lawson, Bearman, Gasly and Hamilton on soft, while Alonso, Lance Stroll, Yuki Tsunoda and Verstappen starting on hard tyres.

At the appointed time, and the weather having dried up, the field took to the formation lap, lined up on the grid, the lights went off and the race began with Norris in the lead. Gabriel Boroleto and Stroll touch, and Bortoleto is out, the yellow flags are out. Hamilton tries to pass around the outside of Franco Colapinto and the Ferrari breaks his front wing.

The Safety Car is out. The order is Norris, Antonelli, Leclerc, Piastri, Hadjar, Lawson, Russell, Bearman, Gasly, Alonso, Alex Albon, Carlos Sainz, Hulkenberg, Stroll, Colapinto, Verstappen, Esteban Ocon, Tsunoda, and Hamilton in 19th.

Hamilton says he thinks his floor is damaged and the Ferrari is handling badly.

On lap 6 the Safety Car is in, and

Piastri, Antonelli and Leclerc battle into the first corner. Antonelli slides and hits Leclerc who is out of the race.

Norris leads ahead of Piastri, Antonelli, Hadjar, Lawson, Russell, Bearman, Gasly, Albon and Alonso.

The Virtual Safety car is out.

Verstappen has a puncture and pits switching from hard to medium tyres.

At the end of lap 8 the VSC Is out and Norris jumps ahead in the lead over Piastri, Antonelli, Hadjar, Russell, Lawson, Bearman, Gasly, Albon and Sainz in tenth. Alonso 11th, Hamilton 15th, Verstappen 16th.

On lap 12 Russell passes Hadjar for fourth in the DRS down the hill.

Tsunoda is given a 10-second penalty for causing a collision with Stroll.

Verstappen passes Hamilton, with floor damage, for 15th

On lap 14 Verstappen passes Colapinto for 14th.

Hamilton tells the team that his car is very unstable. Hamilton pits for medium tyres.

On lap 16 Piastri is given a 10-second penalty for his incident with Antonelli and Leclerc on the restart.

On lap 17 Bearman and Sainz pit. Verstappen is up to ninth.

On lap 19 Bearman and Ocon pit.

At lap 20 Norris leads Piastri by 4.3 seconds, followed by Antonelli (7.3s), Russell (10.2s), Verstappen (19.3s), Albon (22.0s), Hulkenberg (23.9s), Alonso (26.6s), Tsunoda (27.6s), and Colapinto tenth.

Antonelli pits from second switching from soft to medium tyres and rejoins 11th.

On lap 24 Antonelli passes Colapinto for ninth.

On lap 25 Tsunoda pits for medium and rejoins last.

On lap 26 Bearman passes Colapinto for ninth.

On lap 28 Gasly passes Lawson for 13th.

Alonso pits for medium tyres and rejoins 17th.

Hamilton receives a penalty for touching Colapinto early on.

On lap 30 Norris pits from the lead for soft tyres and rejoins fourth. Piastri leads, ahead of Russell and Verstappen.

On lap 33 Norris passes Verstappen for third.

On lap 34 Russell and Verstappen pit for soft and mediums, Russell rejoins in seventh and Verstappen in 11th.

At lap 37 Piastri leads Norris by 9.4 seconds, followed by Antonelli (16.1s), Russell (25.8s), Bearman (26.2s), Verstappen (31.4s), Gasly (32.0s), Lawson (33.6s), Sainz (35.2s), and Ocon in tenth.

On lap 38 Piastri pits and has to serve his 10-second penalty, then changing to soft tyres and rejoins eighth.

Gasly pits from seventh.

Norris is in the lead, Verstappen fifth, and Piastri seventh.

Hamilton retires in the pits.

On lap 41 Piastri passes Lawson for sixth. Hulkenberg passes Alonso for ninth.

On lap 42 Albon passes Alonso. Bearman pits from fifth for mediums and rejoins 11th.

On lap 45 Bearman passes Alonso for tenth.

On lap 47 Antonelli pits from second for medium tyres and rejoins sixth.

On lap 48 Russell pits from second and takes on mediums and rejoins sixth.

On lap 49 Bearman passes Hulkenberg for seventh.

On lap 50 Norris pits from the lead for mediums tyres and rejoins third, Verstappen leads Piastri.

On lap 51 Piastri pits for mediums and rejoins seventh.

Hadjar and Gasly pass Stroll.

On lap 54 Verstappen pits from the lead for soft tyres and rejoins fourth.

Piastri sets fast lap at 1m12.742s.

At lap 55 Norris leads Antonelli by 5.4 seconds, followed by Russell (8.0s), Verstappen (12.4s), Piastri (16.2s), Bearman (20.1s), Lawson (21.4s), Hulkenberg (25.8s), Hadjar (30.9s), and Gasly (31.8s) in tenth.

Red Bull tells Verstappen that the softs could wear out, and Mercedes tells Russell that his brakes are on the limit - Verstappen is 1.5 seconds behind Russell.

At lap 30 Norris leads Antonelli by 6.6 seconds, followed by Russell (9.2s), Verstappen(10.3s), Piastri (14.5s), Bearman (22.9s), Lawson (29.8s), Hulkenberg (31.8s), Hadjar (35.2s) and Gasly (36.0s) in tenth.

On lap 62 Verstappen is within DRS of Russell.

On lap 63 Verstappen passes Russell on the outside into turn 1.

On lap 65 Verstappen is 1.6 second behind Antonelli in second place.

Piastri is 1.4 seconds behind Russell in fourth.

On lap 67 Lawson, Hulkenberg, Hadjar and Gasly are running nose-to-tail.

On lap 68 Verstappen has closed to within DRS of Antonelli. Piastri is within DRS of Russell.

On lap 70 Hadjar passes Hulkenberg for eighth.

At the checkered flag Norris wins over Antonelli and Verstappen.

Bearman takes sixth over Lawson, Hadjar, Hulkenberg and Gasly.