STAR FORMULA 1 PREVIEW: Brazilian Grand Prix 2025

With the drivers’ title set to go down to the wire, F1 fans can expect a wild end to the season, starting with the Brazilian Grand Prix, writes WILLIAM KEDJANYI.

For the first time since 2012, Formula One heads to Brazil with more than two drivers still in the fight for the title, Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen are locked in a thrilling title battle and this weekend – where a sprint race means there’s more points on offer – will give us more twists and turns, with the high possibility of rain throwing another spanner in the works.

---

2025 Formula One MSC Crusises Gran Premio De Sao Paolo Grand Prix
Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace, Brazil
All coverage live on Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports Go & Now TV – times in BST
1️⃣ Free Practice one: 2.30pm Friday
🚀 Sprint Qualifying: 6.30pm Friday
🚀 Sprint: 2pm Saturday
⏰ Qualifying: 6pm Saturday
🏆 Race: 5pm, Sunday

⭐️ STARSPORTS.BET BRAZILIAN GRAND PRIX MARKETS ⭐️

---

🏆 The Race For The Title 🏆

With four rounds and two sprints to go, three drivers (realistically) can win the 2025 drivers’ title. Following a dominant victory in Mexico City, Lando Norris took the lead for the first time in six months, with McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri just a single point behind.

In third, Max Verstappen – unlucky not to take second in Mexico, when the latest of virtual safety cars saved Charles Leclerc from his rampage – is 36 points behind Norris and still in the game, although he has told media he feels he’ll need some luck with an average deficit of nine points a race to claw back. That said, as the form driver in the paddock at the moment, he’s every chance still with a good weekend.

Grand Prix Winners/Pole Sitters:
🇦🇺 Australia – Norris (Norris Pole)
🇨🇳 China – Piastri (Piastri Pole)
🇯🇵 Japan – Verstappen (Verstappen Pole)
🇧🇭 Bahrain – Piastri (Piastri Pole)
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia – Piastri (Verstappen Pole)
🇺🇸 Miami – Piastri (Verstappen Pole)
🇮🇹 Emilia-Romagna – Verstappen (Piastri Pole)
🇲🇨 Monaco – Norris (Norris Pole)
🇪🇸 Spain – Piastri (Piastri Pole)
🇨🇦 Canada – Russell (Russell Pole)
🇦🇹 Austria – Norris (Norris Pole)
🇬🇧 Britain – Norris (Verstappen Pole)
🇧🇪 Belgium – Piastri (Norris Pole)
🇭🇺 Hungary – Norris (Leclerc Pole)
🇳🇱 Netherlands – Piastri (Piastri Pole)
🇮🇹 Italy (Monza) – Verstappen (Verstappen Pole)
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan – Verstappen (Verstappen Pole)
🇸🇬 Singapore – Russell (Russell Pole)
🇺🇸 United States (Austin) – Verstappen (Verstappen Pole)
🇲🇽 Mexico – Norris (Norris Pole)

Standings 📊

Driver / Car / Points:
Lando Norris 🇬🇧 (McLaren) – 16 podiums, 6 wins, 357 points
Oscar Piastri 🇦🇺 (McLaren) – 14 podiums, 7 wins, 356 points
Max Verstappen 🇳🇱 (Red Bull) – 11 podiums, 5 wins, 321 points
George Russell 🇬🇧 (Mercedes) – 8 podiums, 2 wins, 258 points
Charles Leclerc 🇲🇨 (Ferrari) – 7 podiums, 0 wins, 210 points
Lewis Hamilton 🇬🇧 (Ferrari) – 0 podiums, 0 wins, 146 points
Kimi Antonelli 🇮🇹 (Mercedes) – 1 podium, 0 wins, 97 points
Alexander Albon 🇹🇭 (Williams) – 0 podiums, 0 wins, 73 points
Nico Hülkenberg 🇩🇪 (Sauber) – 1 podium, 0 wins, 41 points
Isack Hadjar 🇫🇷 (V-Carb) – 1 podium, 0 wins, 39 points

🏎️ Constructors:
🏆 McLaren – 30 podiums, 13 wins, 713 points
🔴 Ferrari – 7 podiums, 0 wins, 356 points
🟦 Mercedes – 9 podiums, 2 wins, 355 points
🐂 Red Bull – 11 podiums, 5 wins, 346 points
🔵 Williams – 1 podium, 0 wins, 111 points
🐂 Racing Bulls – 1 podium, 0 wins, 72 points
🟢 Aston Martin – 0 podiums, 0 wins, 69 points
🇺🇸 Haas – 0 podiums, 0 wins, 62 points
🟢 Sauber – 1 podium, 0 wins, 60 points
🟣 Alpine – 0 podiums, 0 wins, 20 points

---

📊 Post Sprint Analysis

A weekend packed with drama has already seen big moments in the title race, with Lando Norris winning the sprint from pole as Max Verstappen struggled on his way to fourth and Oscar Piastri crashed out from third. The Mercedes pairing of Kimi Antonelli and George Russell chased Norris home in the sprint, with the championship leader now 9 points ahead of his team-mate.

Norris has been setting the pace all weekend and took pole from Antonelli again for the main race, but crucially Max Verstappen was only 16th in qualifying after complaining about sliding, a lack of grip and balance, and will now start the race from the pitlane after Red Bull made substantial changes to his car.

In a dire weekend so far for our selections, Yuki Tsunoda had an early crash in FP1, used the sprint as an experiment and starts from 18th. The weather has been changeable at Interlagos today, with light drizzle at the moment hitting a track that had been drying during the Brazilian F4 and Porsche Series.

🚦 Race Staring Grid:

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. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
17. Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
18. Gabriel Bortoleto (Sauber)

Pitlane – Max Verstappen (Red Bull) / Esteban Ocon (Haas)

Lando Norris is in pole position to extend his championship lead from the front with a good getaway, although Kimi Antonelli pushed him hard in the sprint (aided by being on Mediums when Norris switched to softs under the red flag), but long odds on quotes make little appeal especially given the tricky conditions we’re sure to see. Oscar Piastri looks far too short at 1/3 for a podium given the same conditions that caught him out yesterday and with the McLaren looking like the fastest car but with less of an advantage than at Mexico City.

4/6 about Kimi Antonelli and 11/4 about George Russell for a podium made appeal but one team in particular is of interest for a good points haul. Grand Prix qualifying represented a crucial turnaround for the Racing Bulls, with Isack Hadjar fifth and Liam Lawson seventh.

Hadjar is 11/8 for ‘Group C’ with starsports.bet racing against Lewis Hamilton (starting 13th), Oliver Bearman (8th), and Fernando Alonso (11th), a price that makes plenty of appeal given his respectable pace in the sprint and starting grid position to boot. If he can enjoy a clean start then he’ll take some passing upfront. The Ferrari race pace was stronger than the one-lap pace but Hamilton will need a fast start and doesn’t have the same flow with the car that he did in Mexico and Aston Martin’s sprint pace seemed to drop, a worry for Fernando Alonso after a fine drive.

Liam Lawson will be crossing everything for a clean first couple of laps – both he and Ollie Bearman made contact on the opening lap and they both received a penalty – but points are a realistic target and a double points finish at 5/4 looks well within their grasp.

In terms of the dual forecast, the even money on Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri looks far too short and 11/4 on Norris/Antonelli, 7/1 on Norris/Leclerc and 10/1 on Norris/Russell are all tempting.

---

Pre-Weekend Prediction 🗣️

An eventful race in Mexico City for most drivers was a cruise to victory for Lando Norris, who produced what could be described as his best weekend in Formula 1. Norris – who nailed his start on the longest run from pole all year – was uncatchable once clearing his rivals, racking up the biggest winning margin of the year.

That level of performance sends a message to the rest of the field – and if the MCL39 is as quick in his hands (Oscar Piastri was much improved on Sunday compared to the rest of the weekend), then he’ll take some stopping – but it would be unwise to expect a straight repeat here.

The unique demands of Mexico – low-density, high-altitude air which stresses the rear tyres especially and causes sliding on a low grip surface – not only suited Norris’ skill but favoured the MCL39 over the Red Bull, which had to compromise it’s bodywork to keep the engine cool, like many other teams. This reversed the massive steps made with the RB21 since Monza, but the much cooler temperatures at Interlagos should mean a much more level playing field, especially with rain around to boot.

Max Verstappen – who managed to overcome the issues of Friday and Saturday in Mexico to take what should have been second if not for a late virtual safety car – should be much more at home here and will be eyeing up a lucrative weekend of the type he had in Austin, where he had the outright pace advantage over his rivals.

Verstappen is favourite for all four sessions with starsports.bet and the best bets at this stage may be to back him for both sprint and race victory.

Verstappen did the double in Austria and whilst his long lap pace makes the odds on him to take pole position for the sprint and pole tempting, wet conditions will allow him to attack on Saturday and his Sunday race pace ought to be a threat from wherever he starts. He’s joint favourite with Lando Norris for the Grand Prix pole in any case and will be close enough if good enough from the front two rows. The market is aware of his prowess here as he’s 11/8 for victory in the sprint but a boosted 17/10 for Sunday is worth having onside as well.

More opportunities will present themselves through the weekend, especially given the importance of the sprint for data but Yuki Tsunoda has been enjoying the improved Red Bull and could stake another claim for a 2026 seat. Tsunoda scored points in Baku and Austin, and has been cutting the deficit to Max Verstappen over one lap, finishing just a couple of tenths off Verstappen in Q3 when Red Bull struggled with setup.

Tusnoda’s first stint pace was impressive considering the strategy Red Bull ran – mediums early to attack on softs late – and after holding up Oscar Piastri, traffic compromised his race before a 12-second pit stop cost him at what should have been ninth place.

With the upgraded front wing giving him more pace, and good track experience here last year (performed well in rain hit race), Interlagos could be a fine showcase for Tsunoda and evens on a points finish looks generous – assuming points go to the McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes drivers and Max Verstappen then there are three places left and with normal luck Tsunoda would have scored in four of the last 6 Grands Prix.

Away from Red Bull, Mercedes could be a team to watch with these temperatures sure to suit their car at a track George Russell loves. Ferrari had some fine pace in Mexico and have to be considered a threat for Sunday if they execute correctly – the Sprint will tell us a great deal about where they stack up, especially in damp/wet v dry conditions.

---

🚦 Track Guide:

Interlagos is one of the most iconic tracks in the sport’s history, and the scene of several title showdowns in the past. A major test of driver skill – especially when the heavens open – it’s one of the better tracks for overtaking in modern F1, with the home straight run into the Senna esses, and the first long straight down to the sharp double left hander (Turn 4).

There’s plenty of elevation through the lap, both up and downhill, and a relatively smooth surface since work was done last year, although bumps are still a factor. In wet conditions, white lines and kerbs are treacherous. Here’s Nico Rosberg with an excellent track guide:

Most dry races have been two stops in the modern era – the last two-stop race without rain was 2018. Intermediates would have made it a one-stop last year but for the red flags.

Tyres 2025: C2 / C3 / C4 (H / M / S) — one step harder than last year.

Weather 🌥️

🏎️ Friday – FP1, Sprint Qualifying
Conditions: Partly to mostly cloudy but likely dry in the morning. Becoming unsettled in the afternoon with a gradually increasing chance of showers, possibly thundery in the evening. Light north-westerly wind bringing showers from the hills. Low confidence in the forecast. FP1: 25°C // Sprint Qualifying: 28°C
Maximum temperature expected: 28 Celsius
Minimum temperature expected: 16 Celsius

Chance of rain: 40%

🚀 Saturday – Sprint and Qualifying
Conditions: Very unsettled air mass with a high chance of showers, possibly thundery in the morning, decreasing a bit in the afternoon. Strong wind expected westerly with gusts up to 75 kph possible. Sprint: 24°C // Q: 26°C
Maximum temperature expected: 27 Celsius
Minimum temperature expected: 21 Celsius

Chance of rain: 80%

🏎️ Sunday – Race
Conditions: Cooler than previous days. Mostly cloudy at first with a slight to moderate chance of light rain until noon. Becoming clearer for the race with only a slight chance of one light shower. Light south-easterly wind. Race start: 18°C
Maximum temperature expected: 19 Celsius
Minimum temperature expected: 13 Celsius
Chance of rain: 20%

RECOMMENDED BETS – Pre Race Weekend
BACK Max Verstappen – Sprint Race Winner 3 pts at 11/8 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Max Verstappen – Grand Prix Winner 2 pts at 17/10, boosted from 6/4 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Yuki Tsunoda – Points Finish 6 pts at evens (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

RECOMMENDED BETS – Sunday Pre-Race
BACK Isack Hadjar to win Group B 3 pts at 11/8 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Racing Bulls double points finish 2 pts at 5/4 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)

---

PROFIT/LOSS (NOV 2025): PROFIT -4.77 points

---

STAR PROMOTIONS