The 21st round of the 2025 Formula OneTM season at Autódromo José Carlos Pace in São Paulo has just delivered plenty of drama and it was far from kind to Charles Leclerc and Scuderia Ferrari.
Lando Norris pulled off a superb performance: after securing pole position in qualifying with a 1 m 09.511 s lap. He went on to win the Grand Prix.
Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team claimed a career-best second place, while Max Verstappen battled back from the pit-lane to take third. Kimi is going to be someone that Charles Leclerc will have to keep a close eye on. This wasn’t a one-off lucky podium.
For Ferrari and Leclerc, the weekend was a tough one. Leclerc retired early after a collision with Antonelli, putting a dampener on Ferrari’s hopes in Brazil. McLaren’s Oscar Piastri had dived down the inside of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli before Kimi made contact with Charles. Antonelli swerved to the outside of the circuit, where he hit Leclerc. The stewards found Piastri responsible.
Leclerc & Ferrari — What Went Wrong?
Leclerc qualified strongly (third on the grid) but that early crash meant no meaningful result from the race. Having started from a promising P3 on the grid , following back-to-back podium appearances at the last two rounds in Austin and Mexico, Leclerc was unlucky to miss out on another potential podium result. A podium for sure was possible for our 28-year-old ace. It’s a shame.
Ferrari’s broader performance remains a concern: given the pace shown by McLaren and Mercedes. Ferrari are finding themselves increasingly under pressure with Hamilton also struggling throughout the whole weekend. Hamilton qualified only 13th, and then crashed into the back of Alpine’s Franco Colapinto at the end of the opening lap in Interlagos and eventually retired with too much damage to his Ferrari.
The weekend illustrated the gap opening up between Ferrari and the front-runners: while Norris and McLaren looked composed.
The Championship Picture
Norris’s win at São Paulo extended his lead significantly to 390 points , putting him in the driver’s seat for the title. With Piastri his teammate lying second on 366 points , McLaren are in a strong position, but there’s still work to be done with Verstappen sitting dangerously third on 341 points. Charles is in 5th place with a creditable 214 points, though his goal is obviously to be in title contention.
Constructors’ Standings
McLaren have already clinched the Constructors’ Championship this season, which gives them the luxury of focusing on the Drivers’ title now. Meanwhile, Mercedes have pulled clear of Red Bull and Ferrari in the fight for second, and Ferrari now find themselves chasing rather than leading in the team battle.
What Next for Ferrari & Leclerc?
Ferrari need to regroup. While there are still races remaining, the momentum has just shifted away from them again. Leclerc must bounce back. Charles’ qualifying pace is good, but converting that to strong race results is now vital. That makes Brazil really unlucky.
Ferrari must optimise race strategy and pit-stop execution to keep up with McLaren’s consistency. Leclerc will have to ensure that when he’s in contention, he delivers. No room for error. Ferrari must monitor developments at Mercedes. Antonelli’s rise may signal that Mercedes are becoming a genuine threat beyond their traditional role.
The Brazil Grand PrixTM was a showcase of McLaren’s dominance this season, Norris’s maturity under pressure, and how much Ferrari’s is under fire. Leclerc and Ferrari will feel the bad luck and sting of this weekend, but with a few rounds remaining, there’s still room for redemption, provided they regain their edge quickly.
