F1 SAO PAULO GP LIVE UPDATES – MEDIA DAY

THAT'S IT FROM THURSDAY

Tomorrow the jibber-jabber ends and the track action begins – join us for FP1 at 11:30-12:30 local time, and sprint qualifying from 15:30.

norris: reset and go again

New championship leader Lando Norris has been reflecting on his Mexico win – or, rather, how little time he allowed himself to spend enjoying his Mexico victory.

He's just one point ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri in the title race with Max Verstappen now looming large in the rear-view mirrors.

"Smile for a day and then move on," he said in Sao Paulo. "It doesn't change anything. Yeah, literally that.

"Smile about it. It obviously feels good in the moment. But by the time I get on my flight home, then honestly I try and forget as many things as I can.

"Review everything and go to the team and spend my days there in terms of reviewing, preparing for this weekend, preparing for the rest of the season. It's nice to look back on things. But it doesn't change anything in terms of my thoughts on my processes.

"I guess I take on board what was good. We understand what was good, why it was good. What did I do well and what did I still not do well enough? What could I improve on?

"Especially the good times, it doesn't influence my feelings or my approach. In the past, some of the bad times I think did.

"And it's easier for bad times to feel more painful than good times feeling good. One of my things that I like is almost forgetting about it as quickly as possible and enjoying some days off, and going again."

Lando Norris, McLaren

Photo by: Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto / Getty Images

OSCAR DOES THE TANGO

Well it was obvious that the opening salvo of questions to Oscar Piastri would concern the widespread belief in the fan community that he is being 'nobbled' by McLaren.

"Well, easy first question," he rejoindered. "No, it's not the case.

"I think the last couple of weekends have been a little bit more tricky, but we've got pretty clear answers on why that's the case. There's not really too many mysteries on what's happened.

"I think there's some questions on why some differences have cropped up in terms of how I need to drive and stuff like that, but everything is explainable, so there's definitely none of that going on."

But what is is like being the chaser now – in championship terms – rather than the chasee? Has this changed his mindset?

"Not massively, I don't think, especially when it's essentially even. It doesn't change a whole lot, but for me the mindset all year has been about trying to just have the best weekends I can and ultimately drive as fast as I can.

"At no point through the weekend have I factored in more than normal my risk-taking approach or anything like that, so I think for me that doesn't change anything now that the championship order is a bit different. I'll be trying to just go as fast as I can and take the same risks that I normally do, because nine times out of ten, that's a good balance to have."

Oscar Piastri, McLaren

Photo by: Mark Sutton / Formula 1 via Getty Images

NO CLARITY

Lewis Hamilton continues to be unhappy about his penalty in Mexico, and the absence of sanctions for the other drivers who went grasscutting at various points during that race.

"There isn't any clarity and I think that's probably part of the big issue. Transparency and accountability," he said in Sao Paulo.
 
"And also the secrecy that the decisions are made in the background. I think it's something that definitely needs to be tackled. That's probably something that needs to be done in the background, I would imagine.
 
"I don't know if they're aware of the weight of their decisions. Ultimately, decisions can decide the results of championships, as you've seen in the past. Some work needs to be done there, I'm sure."

CARRY ON SCREAMING

Max Verstappen has also been talking about overtaking and tyres – particularly the recent revelation that there is going to be a vote in the F1 Commission about making two pitstops mandatory next season. Because it worked so well in Monaco, right?

"Yeah, the cars again have been a bit more difficult to follow, and then in some races, when you stay within a second, the tyres overheat quite quickly and it's quite tough to put a move on," said Max.

"Also because most of the cars are within 2-3 tenths [of each other in terms of lap time], so then their pace advantage is not big enough unless something crazy happens with a Safety Car. So, yeah, we'll see.

"I mean, maybe, yes, it will be better if they do that, but for sure people will be screaming as well at the same time next year when it comes at the wrong time that you have to do a two-stop or whatever, so you will always keep that. 

"But again, also next year there's so many question marks in general about the car engine anyway, besides forcing a two-stop, so a lot of unknowns."

But will they be known unknowns or unknown knows? What a Rumsfeldian tangle F1 2026 presents...

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Rudy Carezzevoli / Getty Images

 HOW TO MAKE RACING BETTER

There's been much talk recently about how performance convergence has made overtaking rarer in the 2025 season. The cars can no longer follow each other closely, plus the tyres are now more robust.

That's because the drivers complained about the tyres being too prone to thermal degradation, so Pirelli beefed the compounds up. Now they're complaining that the tyres don't degrade enough.

No pleasing some people, eh?

George Russell had this to say in Sao Paulo:

"We are selfish as drivers, and you want the best cars, and the fastest cars, and the most enjoyable cars. We have to recognise that we are one of 20, and there's 100 plus million people following the sport week in, week out.

"So, I don't know what the perfect solution is. If you could magically create a tyre, say the hard tyre could, if it's a 60 lap race, a hard tyre could do 30 laps, and then it falls off a cliff, the medium does 20 laps, and it falls off a cliff, and the soft does 10 laps, and then it falls off a cliff.

"If you could magically achieve that, I guess that would be the perfect scenario, and then drivers can pick and choose different strategies. But, I do appreciate for Pirelli it's really not easy, and also for them developing a tyre, when we go to all these different circuits, and all the circuits have different tarmacs as well, is very difficult.

"So, if all the tarmacs were the same across the tracks, then it would be much easier for them to develop a tyre to achieve something."

George Russell, Mercedes

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

ANTONELLI BROUGHT TO BOOK

You may have seen pictures circulating on social media of Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli making a pilgrimage to Morumbi Cemetary, where Ayrton Senna is buried, and taking a moment to embrace the atmosphere while reading a book about Senna's life.

Obviously Senna passed away long before Antonelli was born, but he remains a giant in the motor racing firmament and Kimi was happy to explain why he went to the grave.

"It was a really cool experience, " he said.

"Obviously Ayrton is my racing hero. And yesterday I had a lot of time in hand, so I said, why not? It was very close to my hotel.

"I decided to go in the morning, but then I also went in the afternoon because it also was... I found it a really quiet place, very peaceful.

"So in the afternoon, I just decided to go there this time just with my coach and we read a book. We were reading a book and just spent some time in peace in a quiet place and it was really nice. But yeah, I really wanted to go and say hi to him [Senna]."

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photo by: Sam Bloxham / LAT Images via Getty Images

Very much the centre of attention today has been Gabriel Bortoleto, currently the only Brazilian driver on the grid. Fernando Alonso is involved in Bortoleto's management – here's what he had to say about him:

"Well, I think the first season has been outstandingly good for him. Being the first year in Formula 1, many things changed. The preparation you do for every weekend can be different.

"You need to work not with 8 or 10 people [as Bortoleto will have done in Formula 2], you need to work with 100 people on track and things. So, it's never an easy step. But I think he did really well.

"He impressed not only the [Sauber] team but also the paddock in general, which obviously in a rookie season is very important because you establish yourself as an important asset for any team. So, for all the rookies it's a special situation changing the regulations next year. They are in their team's hands next year.

"If the [Sauber] team is performing well, they can keep growing their names into the paddock and Formula 1. And if the team is not performing, they can vanish in a way. But I think the different thing with Gabriel is that thanks to this season he doesn't need to prove a second or third year at high level.

"Everyone knows that when the car will be good, he is a top driver.

"[Racing at home is} more pressure always, but that is something you cannot avoid. You wake up in the morning, you race in your home and you will be a little more stressed, but that's something we all need to deal with, so not concerned.

"I think the only thing is just the media attention and the events. You need to concentrate always in your home Grand Prix, but we briefed him. The team is also helping him to concentrate only on the technical stuff and the sporting side of the weekend. So, I think he is well prepared for this weekend."

franco speaks

Franco Colapinto is a man in demand this week, given the proximity to his native Argentina. A lot of fans and media have made their way over to Sao Paulo.

It's been a tough season for him in the Alpine. We understand that there will be some sort of announcement about his future shortly, but for now he's remaining tight-lipped on whether he will be staying with Alpine.

"I don't know," he said in Sao Paulo when the inevitable question came up.

"I'm going race by race and I'm trying to focus on this weekend. It's a weekend, a track and a place that I just enjoy very much.

"And to be again in Formula 1 racing in Brazil for me is very special, so I can't wait to get to the track. I think there is going to be a lot of Argentinians here, so I want to enjoy the weekend with them.

"Last year was not easy for me and was not an enjoyment as I wanted to have, you know, in the paddock and with the things that happened."

Last year, you may recall, he crashed in the wet and caused the race to be red-flagged.

"It was quite tricky for me, so I just want to have a good weekend for them, to try to enjoy with the fans. I know they did a big effort to come all the way to Brazil and I want to give them something nice."

It'll be all white on the night

Fernando Alonso channelling the "Man from Del Monte" look on his way into the paddock today.

He's not optimistic about Aston Martin's prospects this weekend – you may recall he's claimed it's now the ninth fastest car.

"It always feels special to be back [in Sao Paulo] and it has been always very good in terms of results," he said.

"Brazil, nine times on the podium, I think, which is the circuit that has been the best for me. Of course, the two championships here are always great memories.

"I think we've been not super-competitive in the last few months, so I don't think that magically we will be competitive now in Brazil. But we're still always in the fight for points.

"I think that will be the maximum goal. I don't think the top four teams will have any problems here. So, realistically, the only positions available are ninth and tenth.

"And yeah, let's see if we are in that fight."

If Lance Stroll said anything interesting in the FIA press conference we'll be sure to let you know.

Oh, hello Bernie.

Best hide behind a pillar or something if you see Felipe Massa, eh?

Oliver Bearman is still delighted by his fourth place in Mexico. He says at one point he thought a podium position would be on, but his team had to respond to others going to a two-stop strategy.

"I think the only way to finish in the top three would be if the guys behind me stayed out as well and we all went to the end," he said.

"But the second [Oscar] Piastri and Kimi [Antonelli] boxed it was game over I think. I think regardless if we stayed out or boxed on that lap I would have finished 4th, but of course no way to finish on the podium.
 
"If a Safety Car came out and I didn't pit then I would have fallen back. From in the car I thought I was going to be on the podium at one point. I was shocked when I got called to box but I don't see the full picture like the strategists do." 

Regardless, he thinks recent form vindicates the Haas team's decision to bring a late upgrade to the car.

"Certainly it was a good decision, I think, to bring the upgrade looking at where we are now – and every position is so important in terms of money for Haas. That will be very important for us for next year and development and everything, so I'm going to be giving him absolutely everything to try and score more points and get us closer. But I think now it's 10 points from P6 or something like that. 

"I look at last year in Brazil, the two Alpines were not very fast all year and then they had both cars on the podium and they jumped up to P6. So it's still possible to have one of those crazy races where things can change a lot – but I just want to try and capitalise and maximise every opportunity in these last four with the car that we have, which is clearly able to fight in the points."

DRUM ROLL PLEASE

Here's Esteban Ocon making an entrance.

He was also a victim of the respiratory ick doing the rounds during the USA/Mexico double-header.

"I was sick last week, it was quite bad," he told the media in Sao Paulo.

"It took me quite a while to recover, to be honest. I'm not the one to shout, 'I'm sick' but yeah, it [Mexico] was probably one of the toughest races I've ever done.

"The last 15 laps were torture, to say the least, but we still completed it, we still got points for the team. That was the important one, but yeah, quite strange to be sick that early.

"But there was a lot of people in the paddock that were, and in our team as well. Long seasons are quite tough on those, and hopefully now I'm immune for the rest of the winter and for next year."

That's not how colds work, Esteban. We're sure there are plenty of armchair immunology experts left over from pandemic times who could fill you in...

New championship leader Lando Norris arrives in the paddock looking like he's dressed for the golf course, where knitwear is eternally fashionable.

Perhaps he's going to tell his critics to "get knitted".

YOU'VE BIN HAD

Where you bin? No, where you wheelie bin? Sebastian Vettel was a visitor to the paddock today, having co-presented the Earthshot Prize ceremony in Rio this week.

Seb, unlike this writer's neighbours, clearly knows how to separate his waste into recyclable and non-recyclable. The clue is that the bins are a different colour! Would you believe it?

Rant over.

SAINZ LEAVES A GULF

In other housekeeping notes, we won't be hearing from Carlos Sainz today – he's ill and has been excused media duties. Funnily enough, there was a lot of respiratory ick doing the rounds across the USA/Mexico GP weekends. Your humble scribe had to withdraw from Tuesday night's Zwift Racing League opener.

In other news, Williams has a special Gulf livery this weekend.

We reckon Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur is pondering what he'd look like in those fab 'Ferrari Style' threads Lewis Hamilton is modelling.

GRAVEL GROVEL

Are those gravel wheels on that absolute monstrosity of a bike? Where is Isack Hadjar planning to actually ride it? Through the lakes? We'll make sure our colleagues on site in Sao Paulo ask him all these important questions.

LAWSON'S MARSHAL LAW

You may have been aware of a brouhaha last week, when the Mexican Motorsport Federation blamed Liam Lawson for not slowing down enough when yellow flags were displayed to cover marshals on track during the early stages of the Mexico City Grand Prix. In very short order the FIA stepped in and said Lawson was not to blame for the shocking near miss as he left the pits and came through Turn 1.

"I was very surprised [by the Mexican federation's claim]," he told the media today in Sao Paulo.

"I think the FIA's statement was very clear and very accurate as well, and something that, probably, I don't really need to say too much more than what was put in that statement.

"It was obviously checked into everything that led to that happening, to the fact that they got caught out there, and everything I did in the car to obviously slow down and avoid them, and take a completely different line to what I've taken through the entire weekend. But yes, I was extremely surprised. Still am very surprised.

Lawson revealed that he had conversations with FIA personnel immediately after the race.

"I had a talk with them, and I appreciated that a lot," he said.

"I do understand we're in a sport with a huge amount of variables, and these things, as much as they can't happen again, they shouldn't happen, and there's always a possibility of something like this, and obviously what's most important is that the action is taken now to prevent it.

"So I didn't have a problem with any of that. It was just the statement that came out, trying to accuse me of doing something.

"I think there's obviously been a much bigger investigation behind it now, which I'm sure I'll get more details on as well, that's involved the team and stuff like that, but at the time it was obviously a miscommunication.

"From my understanding they were released onto the track and then recalled back, but for whatever reason they didn't get that message.

"At the time I was more concerned about the fact that these two guys were running across the track in front of me, and that in that moment I have no idea what direction they're going to run, and I try to basically do as few direction changes as possible so that they don't get spooked and change direction."

LEWIS ROCKS FERRARI STYLE

We're told Sir Lew's 'Ferrari Style' outfit is attracting much comment on social media. We're all for it. A highly fetching and practical ensemble – note the voluminous pockets on those troos...

Bet it's warm too. Always pays to wrap up in Sao Paulo at this time of year, y'know...

Here's another angle, shot by Kym "I Told You I Was" Illman.

PANTS PEOPLE

Who is wearing the baggiest trousers in the paddock today? Is it Isack Hadjar?

Is it Sir Lewis Hamilton? 

Is it Liam Lawson? Could be...

Nico Hulkenberg: "I pulled my finger out"

It's 15 years since Nico Hulkenberg startled the F1 world by qualifying his Williams on pole position at Interlagos. Among the most surprising poles of the modern era, given how uncompetitive that car was.

Hulkenberg has enjoyed a long career owing to his speed, consistency and professionalism. He's well respected by his colleagues – note how pleased everyone was when he finished on the podium at Silverstone this season.

His Sauber team has enjoyed an uptick in form recently, against expectation since the development taps have long since been turned off. Asked what's been different, especially in qualifying, Nico was typically candid:

"I just pulled my finger out, to be honest, and got on with it," he said.

"I think sometimes you have a positive dynamic or momentum and sometimes you don't have it. And obviously there was this more difficult patch over the summer time. The summer period. 

"And, you know, we just kept at it, kept working, kept grinding. And I think the feeling and the relationship with the car is probably a bit better now than in the summer time.

"And just probably a result of that process. F1 is always like that. You have to learn, adapt and adjust to the new challenges."

THIS WEEKEND: F1'S SAO PAULO GRAND PRIX

Hello and welcome to live updates from the paddock on media day for the 2025 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. There's all to play for in the world championship, Lando Norris having pulled ahead of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri to the tune of one point, as Max Verstappen – winner here last year – closes in...