Brazilian Grand Prix race predictions as F1 experts decide if Lando Norris will extend championship lead

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The Brazilian Grand Prix is set to take place this weekend at the Interlagos Circuit, with the 2025 driver’s championship lead changing hands last time out in Mexico.

Lando Norris now leads the title battle by just a single point ahead of his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, who had previously held the top spot for the last fifteen races.

Norris dominated the Mexican Grand Prix weekend, with an impressive pole position before leading the race from start to finish.

Piastri finished fifth, after a late VSC prevented him from overtaking Oliver Bearman’s Haas in the final two laps.

The neutralisation of the race in the final two laps, also prevented Max Verstappen from catching Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari in second, with just three tenths between the pair when all cars were forced to slow.

His third-place finish has still done wonders for the Dutchman’s championship hopes, with him now trailing Norris by 36 points with four races remaining.

Our experts have shared their predictions for the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix, including who they think will stand on the top step of the podium at Interlagos.

Read More: 2025 F1 Brazilian Grand Prix race, sprint and qualifying times, how to watch and Sao Paulo weather

Who will be the biggest disappointment at the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix?

Shay Rogers:  There’s one obvious disappointment at the moment, and their performance has been borderline embarrassing. Compared to last year’s race, this is going to be a harsh dose of reality for Alpine, who qualified way behind anyone else at the last race in Mexico.

Yes, they might have been focused on 2026 for a while now, but they have been quite slow recently. Flavio Briatore has chosen Pierre Gasly’s teammate, and an announcement should come soon, as the team looks ahead to brighter days.

Kyle Archer: Ferrari are the only one of F1’s top four teams without a Grand Prix win after the first 20 rounds of this year’s 24. And while Charles Leclerc secured podiums at the past two rounds, with P3 in America and P2 in Mexico, the Scuderia’s wait will not end in Brazil.

The Ferrari SF-25 remains extremely sensitive to the ride height that the Scuderia pick for Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton’s set-ups, and the problem will likely rear its ugly head in Brazil. Interlagos’ undulating circuit could prove excruciatingly detrimental for Ferrari’s chances.

David Comerford: Lewis Hamilton is running out of chances to finish on the podium. His past success in Brazil and affinity with the country will raise hopes of a dream result here, but it just doesn’t look like this driver/team combination can execute a weekend well enough to crack the top three at the moment.

Ashley Hambly: Max Verstappen’s performance in Mexico highlighted that the RB21 still has some vulnerabilities to McLaren when they’re firing on all cylinders. Off the back of a legacy driver in Sao Paulo last year, I’m expecting the four-time world champion to be humbled on his return to the circuit.

Rebecca Braybrook: Williams really struggled around the Interlagos track last year, with Alex Albon failing to start and Franco Colapinto causing a red flag with a crash in both qualifying and the race. I think the Grove team have struggled in the last couple of races and with their results last year, I think it could be another disappointing weekend for Williams.

Tyler Rowlinson: Alpine have been nothing short of disastrous in 2025 and things are only getting bleaker as they sit glued to the bottom of the standings.

Pierre Gasly and Esteban Ocon achieved a herculean double podium last year in Brazil, but the former will be nowhere near that feat in 2025. With Franco Colapinto now starting to make gains, I’m expecting a truly miserable weekend from the Frenchman.

Who will surprise at the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix?

Shay Rogers: It’s the sort of weekend where, when it counts most, we could see a Racing Bulls driver in the top six. A bit like Baku was when we saw Liam Lawson finish in the top five, or Zandvoort, when Isack Hadjar nicked a podium, Sao Paulo could easily present that sort of opportunity. Lawson’s car is faster than Max Verstappen’s, according to one team principal, and that should count for something in Brazil.

Kyle Archer: While Alpine enjoyed a double podium in Brazil last season, as Esteban Ocon and Pierre Gasly secured P2 and P3 after they capitalised on a red flag to change tyres, the lack of rain on the forecast for the 2025 Sao Paulo Grand Prix could prevent any surprises.

David Comerford: Pierre Gasly. It seems like a strange call – Alpine have virtually given up on this year and are clearly the slowest team out there – but if there is some typical Interlagos chaos, then he’ll capitalise as he did last season – albeit with a points finish rather than a podium this time.

Ashley Hambly: Gabriel Bortoleto will channel the energy of his home Grand Prix to record a career-best finish in Brazil. His previous benchmark is a P6 from the Hungarian Grand Prix, and with rain on the forecast, the Brazilian driver could benefit from taking a gamble when it matters the most.

Rebecca Braybrook: I agree with Ashley that Gabriel Bortoleto will use the support of his home crowd to score his best result of the season. Although he has only scraped a handful of points finishes this season, he has shown that he is capable of putting himself in the top ten and there would be no better place to do it again, than in front of his hometown fans.

Tyler Rowlinson: Like Alpine showed last year, Sao Paulo can throw up a chaotic race, even when rain isn’t a factor. I’ll go for Gabriel Bortoleto to grab a haul of points in front of his home crowd. They will be in full voice for their countryman, being the first Brazilian to race at Interlagos in F1 since Felipe Massa in 2017.

Who is winning the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix?

Shay Rogers: Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like there is any lingering weather around for Sunday during the Brazilian Grand Prix. That doesn’t mean that it won’t throw up any chaos, though, and this is the week I expect there to be an all-timer. It’s going to be when Charles Leclerc gets his first victory of the season, being rewarded for all the hard work he has put in to make the SF25 faster and cope with its struggles.

Kyle Archer: Lando Norris will arrive at Interlagos leading the 2025 F1 drivers’ standings for the first time since April. But beyond him wanting to retain the lead, the McLaren racer goes to the Sao Paulo Grand Prix with a point to prove after his 2024 title bid evaporated in Brazil.

Norris crumbled from pole to P6 in the 2024 Sao Paulo GP with multiple mistakes trying to recover from falling from fighting for the lead to P4 by pitting under a VSC. Now, Norris can stamp his claim for the 2025 title by doing what he should have last year and win in Brazil.

David Comerford: Max Verstappen. It feels as if Piastri’s driving style isn’t getting the best out of the McLaren at the moment, and while Norris was dominant in Mexico, he hasn’t able to produce those performances consistently yet. On that basis, I think Verstappen will edge closer to his two title rivals, but the good news is that it’s so difficult to predict.

Ashley Hambly: Sticking to my guns with Oscar Piastri. It’s now or never for the Australian, and he can’t afford for Lando Norris to start creating an advantage to him at the top of the F1 standings. I’m expecting Interlagos to be the site of Piastri’s revival that will see him close out the season in Abu Dhabi as a world champion.

Rebecca Braybrook: Lando Norris will win the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix, making up for the disappointing result last year. I think the Brit has really shown that he is locked in for the final part of the season, and I’m sure he will add another win to his collection.

Tyler Rowlinson: Interlagos is the perfect hunting ground for Max Verstappen. He needs a win this weekend to keep his title hopes alive against the McLarens, and that is exactly what I’m tipping him to achieve.

Rain is not forecast for this year’s race, ruling out another heroic performance in the wet like 2024. But he will be fired up and prepared to take more risks that Norris and Piastri, and this is what will give him the edge in Brazil

Who will finish on the podium at the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix?

Shay Rogers: Joining Leclerc on the podium will be Oscar Piastri and George Russell. Yes, that means two of the title protagonists are missing, but last year we had two Alpine drivers on the podium. It serves as a reminder that anything can, and will happen. Russell took his first win at Sao Paulo in 2022, while Piastri needs to fire back with a strong result after a bit of a wobble.

Kyle Archer: Barring a surprise outcome at Interlagos, the three 2025 F1 title contenders of Lando Norris, Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen should lock out the podium positions at the end of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. And Piastri can ill-afford to be last among that trio in Brazil.

Given Piastri gifted the Sao Paulo Sprint win to Norris in 2024 after leading the first 21 laps out of 24, as McLaren imposed team orders in Brazil to support the latter’s title bid last year, the Australian proved his potential to battle for the top positions in Brazil in dry conditions.

David Comerford: Norris will finish second, and Piastri will show some improvement by taking P3. A couple of weeks to review what’s been going wrong at the MTC will have helped him in that regard. George Russell shouldn’t be discounted, though, despite two slightly disappointing results.

Ashley Hambly: Lando Norris and Lewis Hamilton will join Oscar Piastri on the podium. Where better for Hamilton to kick his Ferrari podium drought to the side than one of his favourite circuits? Norris was in fine form in Mexico City, and I’m expecting him to limit the damage that his McLaren teammate will cause by winning the race.

Rebecca Braybrook: Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton will finish the 2025 Brazilian Grand Prix podium. Both drivers are tied on three victories in Brazil, and I think Hamilton’s love of the iconic track will push him to take his first podium with Ferrari.

Tyler Rowlinson: Like Alpine showed last year, Sao Paulo can throw up a chaotic race, even when rain isn’t a factor. I’ll go for Gabriel Bortoleto to grab a haul of points in front of his home crowd. They will be in full voice for their countryman, being the first Brazilian to race at Interlagos in F1 since Felipe Massa in 2017.