Sao Paulo Grand Prix Weekend: A Pivotal Point in F1 Championship

by Roy Brindley, 5 November 2025

Norris and Piastri are separated by a single point in F1’s Drivers’ Championship. Several points are on offer this weekend in Brazil when Verstappen could inch closer in the title race.

Lando Norris has regained top spot in the World Drivers’ Championship standings, but Max Verstappen has closed the deficit considerably in recent times. © Getty Images

Key Facts:

• Sao Paulo is this weekend’s Formula 1 battleground.
• A single point separates the top two in the championship race.
• Max Verstappen is aiming to maintain his rapid progress in the points standings.
• Leclerc could claim another medal despite Sao Paulo favouring market leaders.

Landon Norris heads to Brazil for this weekend’s Sao Paulo Grand Prix with a tenuous one-point lead in the World Drivers’ Championship standings. Four Grand Prix and two Sprint races remain on the 2025 Formula 1 calendar. It means the stakes are super high.

Winning four of the season’s first six races, McLaren’s Oscar Piastri has topped the table for the bulk of the year. However, a sequence of four disappointing results featuring no podium finishes has seen his teammate, Lando Norris, take the Championship lead for the first time in six months.

Waiting in the wings, ready to pounce on any mistakes made by the battling McLaren duo, is four-time World Champion, Max Verstappen. The Dutch Red Bull driver is 36 points adrift of Norris but is in considerably better form.

Since the Hungarian Grand Prix three months ago, Verstappen has taken 134 points from the subsequent six race weekends. Norris has scored 82 points, and Piastri has scored 72 in the same timeframe.

Surging Verstappen Is 7/2 from 100/1!

As this weekend’s race meeting features a Sprint race, a potential 33 points are available to any successful driver. Unable to separate Max Verstappen and Lando Norris in the Sprint or full race betting – quoting the pair on 13/8 for success in either contest – online bookmakers cannot decide who will collect the most points.

However, bookmakers do not expect Oscar Piastri to fare best and regain his championship lead. Generally priced 4/1 for the Sprint, Ladbrokes quote the Australian’s chances of victory, in a race that could be subject to changeable weather conditions, at 5/1.

Looking forward to double the action this weekend 🤩#McLaren | #BrazilGP 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/QkgAcSvzXY

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) November 3, 2025

Verstappen’s form surge sees him quoted at 7/2 odds for the World title. During the sport’s summer break, the 68-time race winner could be backed at 100/1. And, despite Piastri trailing Norris by a single point, he is currently 5/2 to take the title, with his chief rival priced at 8/11.

Leclerc Stands Out in Stat-Heavy Contest

For this weekend’s feature race, form students have plenty of standout stats to digest. For example, a Safety Car has been required in seven of the past eight Grand Prix. Additionally, the pole-setter has also won this race nine times since 2013.

Favourites have an outstanding record in the Brazilian Grand Prix’s fastest lap market. Not since 2006 has there been a shock ‘winner’ in this market, and, for the past decade, the fastest lap has gone to a driver in the top three of the betting.

Those seeking guidance for an F1 bet on Sunday’s race could do worse than consider Charles Leclerc for a podium finish. It is an outcome offered at 7/4 odds by UK sports betting stalwart, Coral.

The Monegasque driver has secured seven second and third-place trophies this season and is seeking a third consecutive podium visit. His SF 25 Ferrari appears best on circuits like this – where cars require a ‘mixed’ downforce setup.