Oscar Piastri suddenly finds himself in second place after being at the top of the drivers’ championship table for most of the 2025 Formula 1 season. Since his last win in the Dutch Grand Prix, the Australian racer has only secured one podium in the next five races, and McLaren teammate Lando Norris has leapfrogged him. Along the way, Max Verstappen won three races during that period, so he’s back in the mix as well.
Only one point separates Norris and Piastri, while Verstappen isn’t far behind. George Russell is also not yet mathematically out of the championship picture, so these last four races are going to be pivotal.
Next up is the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, which offers an opportunity for Norris or Piastri to get ahead. However, they haven’t had much success at Interlagos in recent years.
As we look forward to another fun race, SBOTOP is here to cover the latest Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2025 updates.
Encouraging early returns for Norris and Piastri
Lando Norris continued his upturn in form by taking pole position in the Sprint qualifying yesterday. After facing close competition from McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri during Friday’s practice, where he pipped Piastri to the top spot in the final moments after trailing for the most part, Norris again edged out his Australian colleague with a solid banker lap during SQ3. Kimi Antonelli raised eyebrows by finishing second behind Norris, and Piastri finished third.
One reason for Piastri’s drop in pace was the mandatory switch to soft tyres in SQ3, as the racers consistently struggle to find grip in the bumpy circuit. At one point, Piastri suffered a snap of oversteer that didn’t help his lap time.
Overall, both Papaya drivers did well, but the potential for rain this weekend could open the door for their competitors (like Max Verstappen) to mount a strong challenge. Speaking of Verstappen, the Dutchman is eager to do better after struggling to make an impression in Sprint qualifying, where he finished sixth because of the RB21’s poor performance.
Alonso provides a sliver of hope for Aston Martin
Fernando Alonso boldly declared that Aston Martin are “on the right foot,” following his surprising performance in Sprint qualifying. The 44-year-old Spanish international took P5 on the grid, as the AMR25 did well. On the other hand, teammate Lance Stroll took P7 on the grid.
It has been a frustrating campaign for the Silverstone-based outfit, especially after both drivers failed to get points in the Mexican Grand Prix, with Alonso notching a DNF and Stroll finishing 14th. Nonetheless, Aston Martin are in a fascinating midfield battle with RB and Haas in the constructors’ championship.
Alonso said recently that the team plans to salvage some pride in the final four races of the 2025 campaign, and they will use this time to continue improving their operations as they look ahead to next year.
History
The Brazilian Grand Prix was renamed the Sao Paulo Grand Prix after Formula 1 returned to Interlagos in the 2021 season. This event was also held in Jacarepagua, Rio de Janeiro, from 1978 to 1989.
Lewis Hamilton, after getting DQ’ed from qualification due to technical infringements, won the main race in 2021 after finishing fifth in the Sprint following a back row start. Overall, the seven-time world champion has the joint-third-most wins in this event with three, level with Max Verstappen, who is seeking a three-peat after winning the last two editions. George Russell also won at Interlagos in 2022, which marked his maiden Grand Prix victory.
Alain Prost has the most wins in this event with six, while Carlos Reutemann, Michael Schumacher, and Sebastian Vettel are behind the Frenchman with four wins apiece. Besides Hamilton and Verstappen, no current driver has more than two wins on this circuit.
What are the odds?
A handful of valuable points are up for grabs in Interlagos, and the Papaya duo of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are poised to take them this weekend, per the Sao Paulo Grand Prix 2025 odds. After winning pole position in Sprint qualifying, Norris is at 1.60 to win the Sprint, whereas Piastri is at 5.00, and Kimi Antonelli is surprisingly third at 6.50.
As for Sunday, Norris and Piastri are pegged at 2.50 and 3.50 to win the actual race, with Verstappen level with Piastri. Russell and Antonelli are the next viable challengers at 11.00 and 21.00, respectively. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton are priced at 34.00 and 41.00. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso is at 51.00, which essentially guarantees him another Top 10 finish.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FORMULA 1 STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
