Lando Norris extended his world title lead over Oscar Piastri to nine points after winning the Sao Paulo GP sprint while his McLaren team-mate crashed.
In a major new setback for the Australian driver’s fading title hopes, two weeks after losing the lead in the standings to Norris, Piastri hit the barrier in wet conditions at Turn Three on the sixth lap while running third.
Piastri touched his left front wheel on the inside of the curb, causing water to splash and send the McLaren careening into the tire barrier.
Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg crashed in succession at the same corner, with the heaviest contact sending Alpine’s Franco Colapinto over the curb.
Hulkenberg was able to drag his damaged car back to the pit lane for repairs following a subsequent red flag, but Piatri and Colapinto were not there. There was a 22-minute delay into the sprint while two standard cars were removed and Turn Three barriers were repaired.
With the field starting on a slippery track that was still wet but dry after morning rain, Norris led the early laps from pole from Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and then was ahead of the young Italian again when the sprint resumed with a rolling start.
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Lando Norris retained his pole position in the Brazilian sprint race as Oliver Bearman was spun out by Liam Lawson.
However, Antonelli did not make life easy for Norris as Mercedes restarted with more durable medium tires compared to the McLaren’s soft tires. But Norris withstood late pressure to win by 0.8 seconds to make the most of Piastri’s crash and claimed his first sprint win of the year to advance to Sunday’s live Grand Prix main qualifying event at 6pm. Sky Sports F1.
And further boosting his title hopes, Norris increased his lead over Max Verstappen to 39 points. The Dutchman went from sixth to fourth on the grid, behind the other Mercedes of George Russell.
Charles Leclerc overtook Fernando Alonso’s Aston Martin late for fifth, with Lewis Hamilton just behind the latter in seventh after taking third from his grid spot of 11th on his first start.
Pierre Gasly claimed the final point for Alpine, a rare feat for an Enstone team who have struggled this season.
Brazil’s Gabriel Bortoleto suffered a devastating high-speed accident at the start of the final lap when he lost control of his Sauber after braking at the first turn while trying to overtake Isack Hadjar’s Racing Bulls.
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Gabriel Bortoleto is airborne after suffering a major crash on the final lap of the San Paulo Sprint race after an overtaking attempt went wrong.
Losing control of his car on the outside line, the Sauber spun left and hit the pit wall, then bounced back to the right, briefly flying into the air and making a heavy impact on the barrier in the breakaway area.
Bortoleto reported over the team radio that he was OK and due to the severity of the impact, he was taken to the Circuit Medical Center for essential precautionary checks.
More to follow…
Sky Sports F1 Sao Paulo GP Schedule
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Take a look back at the most dramatic moments from the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Saturday, November 8
5pm: Preparing for Sao Paulo GP qualifying
6pm: Sao Paulo GP qualifying
8 p.m.: Ted’s Qualifying Notes
Sunday, November 9
3.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: Sao Paulo GP build-up
5 p.m.: Sao Paulo Grand Prix
7pm: Checkered flag: Sao Paulo GP reaction
8 p.m.: Ted’s Notes
Formula 1’s thrilling title race continues in Brazil with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday at 5pm, live on Sky Sports F1 from 3.30pm. Stream Sky Sports NOW – No Commitment, Cancel Anytime
