F1 Brazil GP LIVE: Qualifying delayed due to torrential rain in Sao Paulo
F1 live updates as qualifying is delayed due to horrendous weather in Sao Paulo
Lando Norris took another two points out of Max Verstappen’s championship lead after he won Saturday’s sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Pole-sitter Oscar Piastri obeyed a team order from McLaren to move aside for Norris on lap 22 of 24 at Interlagos, with Verstappen finishing third.
Norris’ victory takes him 45 points behind Verstappen with 132 points still available.
Norris enjoyed a strong getaway, with Piastri moving to his left to keep his McLaren team-mate behind. Verstappen started from fourth and locked up under braking for the opening corner but he managed to get his Red Bull to stop in time.
Follow all the latest updates from the Brazilian Grand Prix with The Independent
Helmut Marko on Max Verstappen grid penalty
Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko suggested that switching out Max Verstappen’s engine for the Brazilian Grand Prix could end up being beneficial to the team as the circuit is one which favours overtaking.
He told ORF: “The engine we had in there [for the Mexican GP] was no longer intended for the race.
“The older an engine gets, the more its performance diminishes [...] We saw that we were missing 3-8kph on the straights.
“The penalty would be five places. That wouldn’t be so severe in Brazil, for example, where you can overtake relatively easily.”
Red Bull weigh up surprise wildcard option for 2025: ‘He was faster than Franco Colapinto’
Red Bull are considering going with a surprise wildcard option as their second driver to partner Max Verstappen for the 2025 F1 season as Sergio Perez’s struggles continue.
During the summer, the Mexican veteran signed a contract extension to stay with Red Bull until the end of the 2026 campaign but has been in dismal form ever since.
He hasn’t finished higher than sixth in any of the nine races since that extension despite teammate Verstappen finishing inside the top six in every one of those races – winning two and finishing second in two others.
Red Bull weigh up surprise wildcard option for 2025: ‘Faster than Franco Colapinto’
Sergio Perez’s dismal performances have opened up speculation of a new driver partnering Max Verstappen at Red Bull next season
Christian Horner on Red Bull ‘supporting’ Perez
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has been one of Sergio Perez’s biggest supporters but even he appears to be losing patience with the Mexican, who has endured a terrible year this season.
“I think we have done everything we could to support Checo [Perez] and we will do the same this weekend in Brazil,” said Horner. “But there comes a point where you reach a limit.
“There comes a time when difficult decisions have to be made. We are now third in the constructors’ championship. We are determined to win again, but that will be hard work in the next four races.”
Lando Norris downplays friendship with Max Verstappen: ‘I don’t talk to him’
Lando Norris has promised not to treat Max Verstappen “like s***” – despite playing down his friendship with the driver he is bidding to dethrone as world champion.
Norris will start Saturday’s sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix from second, two places ahead of Verstappen, after Oscar Piastri sealed a last-gasp pole position in the other McLaren.
Full quotes below:
Lando Norris downplays friendship with Max Verstappen: ‘I don’t talk to him’
Norris will start Saturday’s sprint race in Brazil from second, two places ahead of Verstappen
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