Lando ‘peaking at perfect time’, Max’s ‘fantasy’ fightback + optimism for Oscar? – 2025 Sao Paulo GP Review

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1:54Fast is in practice. Sprint pole. Sprint victory. Grand Prix pole. And the Grand Prix win. Lando Norris wins the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. It feels like he's peaking at the perfect time. It's the most complete version of him that we've seen. Is it too early to say he's got one hand on that title? Yes, it is, Tom Clarkson. What positives can Piastri take from this weekend? I'm still not sure about the penalty, you know. From the pit lane to the podium for Max Verstappen. It might be even better than last year. This is PlayStation stuff in the Formula One World Championship. Just unbelievable. Yeah, boy!

2:36P2, mate. Oh, my goodness. That was stressful. Kimi was just fast. Maybe he's back. Oli Behrman in the Haas. Are we looking at a future Ferrari driver? I think for sure. Welcome everyone to F1 Nation's review of the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. I'm Tom Clarkson and joining me on the show is F1 TV lead commentator Alex Jakes and Brazilian F1 commentator and former racer Felipe Ciaffoni. Now guys, Interlagos always delivers, doesn't it? What a race. What was the highlight for each of you? Felipe, we'll start with you. I think Max, right? I think Max getting the puncture and start from the pits, I mean, it might be even better than last year, you know, where he won the race, where he had the safety car to help him out a little bit.

3:30So I was pretty impressed. It's hard to look past that. I think it's just the fact that so many races this year, we've had a one-stop, we've had things decided in the opening laps, a bit of chat about the strategy, then it's disappeared. That was on the line for so many positions all the way to the end. Lando just a little bit out of reach of everyone. I think the fact that so much was uncertain was my overall highlight. And the atmosphere at this racetrack, you bring a Brazilian back on the grid. It's one of the best atmospheres. I've been on the Grand Prix weekend for 10 years now. It's been electric.

4:03Guys, what was extraordinary about this one is Lando Norris was pouring a little bit of cold water on it all after the race. He said that had Max been starting in a decent place on this grid, he would have beaten Lando today. Yeah, you know, Tom, the first impression that I had from Lando was when he changed tires, I thought maybe he's in a slow rhythm to maybe try to go to the end, you know, with the soft tires. I was a little confused to see if he, okay, it's a done deal, we're going to go for the second start, because I could see a lot of people turning laps like half second, six tenths faster than him.

4:45So I think they kind of hesitate a little bit, you know, McLaren. Should we go for two stops or should we actually take it easy on the tires and we might have to go all the way down? So maybe it wasn't like the true pace, you know, of Lando Norris, because I think if he really knew that he would be two stops, he could push even more you know on the after the first step that was my impression you give a man a 30 second win in Mexico City and suddenly he wants it every week but you're absolutely right he's wary of the threat of what might have been I think it's our job to to state the facts as well as this was an emphatic weekend for Lando Norris he was fastest in every session that counted He wins the sprint when his teammate, an arch rival for the championship, crashes.

5:36He delivers the win in difficult circumstances on Sunday. I feel that we're seeing a different version of Lando now. Would you agree with that? A hundred percent, Tom. If you see, for me, it starts yesterday where if we go back to Lando, we know that every time in the past that he had a little bit of pressure on the key three. sometimes he would hesitate and not get the pole and yesterday he only had one chance otherwise otherwise he would be 10th and he he made the job you know so I think he found a way I don't know if it's because of the Delta that they took out of from the from the dashboard maybe he's a little bit less anxious but I don't know I think he's learning to deal with this a little better and I think we maybe the last two races we've seen the best version of him you know Yeah, definitely the most complete version we've seen of Lando Norris in Formula One.

6:32He's had the dress rehearsal last year, but as you say, he is passing tests that previously he would have failed, and it's the most complete version of him that we've seen. He's now got, what is it, nearly one victory in terms of points ahead of Oscar Piastri in the championship now, Oscar being in P2. Is it too early to say he's got one hand on that title? Yes, it is, Tom Clarkson. Oscar Piastri's led for 15 rounds after Austin, Max Verstappen was the bookie's favourite just take nothing for granted and enjoy the ride with it because it's the most unbelievable, I mean I know if you go racing all the way from March until December you're going to get a lot packed in but it feels that we've had three seasons in one so no, he does not have one hand on the championship joke.

7:18And with your racing driver mentality what do you think he's thinking Felipe in terms of the championship now you mean Lando I think the way he's taking now is just from what we can listen to him after the race just like let's go race by race you know and he's doing such a good job right now that I think he's gonna try to to the one at a time and the momentum I think I even told for the Brazilian TV if even if it would be five points or ten points behind Piastri coming to the São Paulo race, I would still prefer to be Lando as a driver because of the momentum. So he was in the other way, in the beginning of the championship and I was actually sure that Oscar would do a better job than him and then he, I don't know if it was the suspension, the front suspension with the last anti-dive, I'm not sure, but it's something click, you know and even with the loss of the engine that he we have to remember that he he lost a race that wasn't his fault so he would be even further ahead you know so i think he's kind of building his championship and to be honest i think besides max i think lando now deserves you know to to win the championship him and oscar if we look whoever did the best job for me i think I think Lando is doing a better job if you put it all together at this point.

8:52That's a really good point. This was Lando's seventh win of the season, wasn't it? He's now equal with Piastri, but it feels like he's peaking at the perfect time. Yeah, that's massive in championship building, isn't it? And you just feel that ever since he got the front end changed for Canada, the only reason he crashed into Oscar is that he caught him at the end of that Grand Prix. you just feel that more often than not, not just the races, not just the sprints, not just the qualifying sessions, look at the entire weekend from the green light to begin FP1 to the end of a Grand Prix, he has just looked the faster driver.

9:29Oscar's last win was Zandvoort, where he needed a last gasp Q3 effort. Lando had been quicker all the way through that weekend. It is now firmly looking like this car belongs to Lando in a way that it did with Oscar at the start of the year when Piastri stole the start that we all expected Landon Oris to get. So what is Piastri thinking this Sunday evening in the Sao Paulo paddock? Is he capitulating? Do you think, Felipe, he found some of that old speed this weekend? I thought his pace on the soft tyre in that race was electric. What positives can he take from this weekend? I'm still not sure about the penalty, you know, that he got it.

10:11Because I know there is this... Because if it wouldn't be the penalty, he would finish second, right? He would be second, five seconds behind Lando, which is good. And I was getting the transcription from the radio, and one thing that caught the attention is how much the team tells him to take care of the tire, take care of the car, watch out with the wheelspin, watch out with the front tires, be careful not to overcook. So I think he's maybe he's still in a learning process you know where Norris, Lando can do this out of the box you know he knows how to do and I think from where I can listen to you guys every weekend I think Oscar has to to fine-tune I would say this tire management you know.

11:04It's funny isn't it because for the first two seasons of oscar's formula one career tire management was an issue and it felt at the start of this year that he'd he'd moved on from that but maybe felipe is he starting to look like a driver who's only in his third season of formula one versus lando norris who's in his seventh against max verstappen who's in his 11th is that in inexperience showing up? I honestly think my answer to your question is going to be the positive for Oscar Piastri is you're 24 points off the lead of the Formula One World Championship in your third season. And everything just mentioned is part of the development of a driver.

11:45He's going up against Max, who's not had the car in the first half of the year. He's been on fire in the second half of the year. And again today, Lando, that is Lando's team. He's done well to get there. In his first year he wins a sprint race and his second year he wins a grand prix we're in the same season that oscar piastri took his first grand prix pole position that was back in china at the start of the year we're taking it all for granted he's had to learn at warp speed obviously since we've left the european races the questions from year two have come back and he wasn't on the podium in these races a year ago and it's felt like we've reverted to that form but he's less than a win away and I think if you'd offered him that at the end of last year he would have bitten your hand off for it.

12:28I agree completely. I think he's still, I mean what he's done in the previous formula and that was also something that I want to bring it to Gabriel Bortoleto because of course we're Brazilian that winning if you look at the guys that won the F2, F3 in the first season, F2 the first season and then you look at Leclerc and then Russell and then Oscar of course then Gabriel which a little bit different he didn't win as much races but these guys for me has something special you know I think they they understand quite quickly you know the cars to win right out the box you know so I think Oscar is one of them yeah but the Formula 1 I think it's so complex nowadays with the tire management you know i think they know so much about the tire temperature that it's it's hard it is complex but there are two two moments i want to talk about to you in particular felipe his crash in the sprint and then also what happened on lap six when the race went green after the safety car today well the crash to be honest i think was a little bit more of the the track fault than that than hands because there was a little puddles of water like maybe the only mistake that he did all of them walk in the track on Thursday I did and I could see the standing water on the curbs out of turn 2 and out of turn 4 you know so that's that's some place that you don't want to go I think they correct the the problem for today but you could see the standing water there.

14:12So just he went wide, took the water with him and then he spun. So it was a little unlucky. I don't think it was the pressure. I don't think it was something with this, you know. Down to turn number one. Charles Leclerc has got to run. Oscar Piastri has got to run. Three wide into turn number one. How brave is Piastri feeling? He hits Agnonelli who hits Charles Leclerc. And Piastri will be up to second position. But that's a dramatic

14:40He was aggressive, but that's the point, Tom. They have the rule now that it has to be the mirror. Maybe if he would be maybe 10 or 20 centimeters to the front, maybe there was no penalty. So I think it's kind of complicated, you know, because in my point of view, there was a gap there. He went for it. Kimi knew he was there. and at the point that they actually touch it he was trying to back off but it was too late you know it was too late because but but then I think Kimi could give him a little bit of room you know as well so I'm not sure I think you're siding with a racing accident I can feel that Jake see what did you make of the restart on lap 6 I think he's got to go for it it is the nature of the restart I can't remember many drivers going as late as Lando when I thought Lando went that late yesterday in the sprint because of the conditions.

15:32I was very surprised he went late again. Antonelli, I thought, having seen an example of when Lando had gone before, I thought he'd stay with him. His slightly slow reaction has caused that three-wide moment because they're able to react immediately. I think Piastri has to go for that. I think we're sitting here going, there was a restart, there was an opportunity, he played it safe. Why did he play it safe? I think he has to go for that if he's going to win the world championship the rule exists as he really well described that you've got to be further alongside and he wasn't is it a really frustrating rule yes but in modern formula one with a sample size of the last five years that was always going to be given with a penalty i can tell you my phone is littered with messages with drivers that i work with in the commentary box going that is not a penalty and i always defer to my co-commentator but isn't the point he locked up i think without the lock without the lockup jake c yeah i don't think he would have got the penalty i agree but the first thing james hinchcliffe said to me is a lockup is not out of control and that's what every driver has been repeating and i just think the nuances of these rules i haven't found a racing driver who agrees with that penalty yet Back to school starts now.

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19:04Max Verstappen climbs 16 places from the pit lane to the podium. Fantasy Formula One for the four-time world champion.

19:18Pit lane to P3, very nearly P2. Jake Z, you were here last year on the pod discussing P17 to the wing. Do you think what he did today, pit lane to P3, was even more impressive? Yeah, it's dry and in the context of the rest of his weekend, he didn't expect that, did he? Just absolutely incredible pace. I was watching his lap times towards the end and I was thinking, if you don't drop off a cliff soon, you're going to be in the mix to win this race. And I was like, this is ludicrous. This is PlayStation stuff in the Formula One World Championship. It's just unbelievable that it was even possible.

19:58And then the fact that he's only two tenths of a second away at the end across the line, I was mighty impressed. The win always trumps it. And remember that was the significance of he needed one win to basically stop the momentum and effectively take the title there and then. So that is more significant in the course of his career. But it's the happiest I've ever seen him with a P3. Imagine that the drive, I was talking to Gabriel after the Friday and he was saying how hard is to control the tire temperature. He said even with the soft tires, if you go, if you go for one hot lap, in the middle of the lap you start losing grip because of your overheating the tires.

20:38So imagine Max doing this for such a long time, you know, knowing exactly how much he has to push. You know, even the team was in the radio, okay, just watch out, be careful with the tires. And he said, no, we got to go for it, you know. I thought Red Bull pulled a blinder today strategically, but there was one question mark I have on it, which is he pitted for those soft tires on lap 54, right? There's still quite a lot of the race to go. Imagine if he'd pitted five laps later. They would have been that much fresher. I think he would have still got onto the back of those Mercedes. Armchair strategist here.

21:14Am I being too critical? I can see why they did it. Trax rubbered in at the best condition that it's been all weekend. Cars low on fuel. You know the setup's working for him. He's been in an unbelievable groove all the way through. You want to give him time to use the tyre. That soft tyre was not a good tyre all the way through the weekend. It was expiring fast. So you could have done that. But then we could easily be asking the question, why didn't you give him eight laps? So I think either way, the effort to get that close. What I was really impressed with was Kimi Antonelli's defense standing tool, because I think a lot of people would have just assumed that was going to be slam dunk.

21:47And that's a big step forward in his development as F1 driver. I think yesterday on qualifying was maybe one of the first times where I see, in my point of view, a team mistake, because I think he was the only one that he never used the second set of softs to go for Q1. Of course he never has two because it's so easy for them, but even the McLaren, even the strong guys, they did for two new sets and he went for one fast lap and then cool down for two laps and try another one. In a track that everybody knows that it's kind of hard to get the second lap out of, so maybe it was a mistake there. and my question was how far up he could actually be, you know, in qualifying mode if he would just be there, maybe fourth, third, fifth, I don't know, somewhere around there, but maybe he wouldn't have the car that he just had today because he went to Park Vermeer, he put up, so okay, if he started fourth, maybe he would not even finish second.

22:51But Philippe, wasn't the car so far out of the window in qualifying that even if he had done that second set of soft tyres and got through to Q2, do you really think he would have got into Q3? I think so, Tom. I think I have the impression because if you look at on the sprint race, he wasn't that far off. He was far in the sector two on the new tyres. It was like half second, six, seven, tenths. But he called me attention on the sprints that he wasn't that bad, you know? I think they changed the setup a bit between the sprint and quality didn't they and they went in the wrong direction and so I think for the armchair fan I think you're absolutely right thank goodness he got knocked out in Q1 he went started from the pit lane I mean they changed everything on that car the floor the suspension that even the new power unit which has got to be worth a few horsepower isn't it old versus new and um and that's what gave us such an an electric race or one of the reasons today anyway.

23:51For sure, yeah. No, I think that was the right decision. And that's what I said. Maybe if he just start the race in fourth or fifth, he would finish this on the same place, you know, and for us would be a much worse race to watch. I asked Max at the end of the press conference how he rated his chances in this World Championship. Now he's 49 points behind Lando Norris. I said, look, do you think given your pace today, the car will be quick at all of the last three events and he said I have no idea just look at us this weekend look at us in Mexico maybe maybe not what do you think Jake see I think they will be quick in Vegas why because I think they've shown form in the past and they've got on top of the ride when it comes to a bumpy circuit it's a very very bumpy circuit that car has worked when it comes to low temperatures we expect low temperatures with the time that we run there we know he's rapid in qatar and then final race of the year he's always been great at abu dabu so yeah i think he's in the mix for the final three and it's kimmy antonelli who hangs on by three tenths of a second antonelli with his best ever result in formula one oh my goodness That was stressful.

25:10You both touched on Kimi Antonelli. What a great defence he put in today in the race. Secures his second podium in Formula 1, his best finish in Formula 1. Actually, it was two good races, right? Because one on Saturday and the other one today. And I think he really needed after the race that he had in Miami, after the pole, couldn't really put all together on race day. you could actually see that Kimi was just fast you know he was just faster throughout one lap faster throughout the throughout the race as well so I think for him maybe was a huge gain of confidence you know maybe can turn the key a little bit where he starts the season good and then he had a big part of the season where he is kind of okay maybe it was too soon maybe he's back ever since Toto Wolff accused him of being underwhelming at his home Grand at Monza, he's kicked on from there, isn't he?

26:06I think it came before. I think he made a set-up breakthrough in Budapest, and he had a very, very anonymous race in Budapest, but I think he came out of that Grand Prix understanding the car a lot more. The question I always have with Kimi Antonelli is, he's turned up to Miami, a circuit he doesn't know, he's put it in the sprint format with one hour of practice on sprint pole. He turns up to Interlagos, another circuit he doesn't know, He's put it on the front row for the sprint and all the European leg that he knows off by heart and has raced that time and time again. So that I find slightly quirky, but very, very impressed that he's been able to do it here.

26:44I think it shows huge talent to be able to go to a new racetrack and deliver immediately. Yeah, I think nowadays with all the simulators that they have and maybe the less pressure as well, maybe because it's a new circuit, you just go and see what we can do. and you see when he was in Italy that he has everybody together and it was a messy weekend. Maybe it's just the pressure, maybe he kind of feel a little bit with less on his shoulders and deliver more. I mean, kudos to the Mercedes team. They saw this in him all along, didn't they? And I think Toto Wolff never doubted him, even in the low moments.

27:24No, I think that was definitely motivation. If you've hurried him through the junior categories like Toto Wolff did, and I was a little bit fearful because no one doubts his talent. I was thinking the only way you can mess this kid up is by putting him in before he's ready. And then they put him in and in the middle part of the year I was like, no, because he's so good and we know he's so good. So they never doubted it. But also credit to Pete Bonington as well. It's quite a contrast to go from a seven time world champion. And when you heard his information, just so calm. Kimi far from calm at the end, but he's a 19-year-old teenager racing Max Verstappen.

28:00But I think that's a perfect person to tutor you through a rookie campaign. He seems to go well on low grip circuits as well. I mean, Miami is a low grip circuit. Mexico, low grip circuit. Here is a low grip circuit. What does that tell you about a driver's feel, Felipe? It's hard to say, Tom, because usually drivers, they like more grip, right? It's almost like when you have more grip, it's kind of easier, you know, as you step series by series. You see, sometimes when you go backwards, like Oscar had the issue with the low grip track, maybe because you try to overdo and you start to bring the temperatures up, you know, and maybe try to mess the tires a little bit.

28:44But for Kimi, it's working fine, right? Well, let's talk about another rookie as well, because if Kimi is hitting form now, there's another young guy who has just had his fourth consecutive points finish, Oli Behrman in the Haas. I mean, lots of great races this year, but Mexico in here is something else. Yeah, he has been superlative and back to the faith that Haas showed because he had an incredibly ordinary second year in Formula 2, finished outside the top 10 of that championship. Very few drivers miss like that in the second season and get the promotion. Haas were convinced by those FP1s and the updates they've brought have brought him alive, haven't they?

29:26Esteban is doing okay, a proven Grand Prix winner. Oli has been brought alive by this and showing all the reason why Ferrari was so interested in him for so long. You mentioned Ferrari. If he continues in this trajectory, are we looking at a future Ferrari driver, Alex? I think for sure. Honestly, I think what he's done in the last few races, he's showing week in, week out, different types of circuit. Was disappointed to be P8 on the grid yesterday because he believed the top five was there. How quickly the expectations change, but has to believe he's capable of it, and so does he. Kudos. to Oli Behrman.

30:03Let's talk about two other rookies as well. Liam Lawson, Isaac Hadjar. Lawson doing 52 laps on the medium tyre. We've never seen that from him before. Talk about drivers hitting their stride late in the season. Antonelli is one. I feel Isaac Hadjar has been impressive all year. Lawson is getting better. He feels like he's getting more and more comfortable in that racing ball. That's not his best result overall, but that's by far his best drive in Formula One, to have a queue all the way down to P12 and a DRS train at the end, it looked like a safety car restart across the line. To keep your head and deliver that, it's one thing to, oh, didn't he have a good driver?