IT'S RACE WEEK: 5 storylines we're excited about ahead of the 2025 Sao Paulo Grand Prix

Following a change in championship leader with just four rounds still to run, there are now just 36 points separating the three title contenders. Heading into the final standalone race of the season, the pressure is only growing on multiple fronts, with an often-dramatic trip to Interlagos on the horizon.

How the McLaren drivers respond to the title lead change

Lando Norris held the championship lead for the first four rounds of this season, but in Saudi Arabia he was usurped by team mate Oscar Piastri. The Australian led the way heading into the following 15 rounds, but Norris’ victory in Mexico saw him regain top spot by a solitary point.

The gap between the two McLaren drivers had grown to as much as 34 points after Norris’ retirement from the Dutch Grand Prix, but he has outscored Piastri at every race since that point to put himself in prime position with four rounds to go.

Not only is it important to remember just how slender the advantage is, but it is also significant in the way it marks a different dynamic between the McLaren pair. No longer is Norris the one doing the chasing – having said after Zandvoort that “it's almost a big enough gap now that I can just chill out about it and just go for it” – but instead he has moved into the role of being chased by everyone.

For Piastri, the past two race weekends have been particularly tough, as he has struggled to match Norris’ pace and has had to adapt his driving style, but the initial feedback from McLaren Team Principal Andrea Stella was that progress had been made in Mexico City. How Piastri builds on that, and how Norris handles the focus of being the championship leader, will be fascinating.

Verstappen’s need to stay close

As tough as the Mexico City Grand Prix was for Red Bull and Max Verstappen, the defending champion actually managed to close the gap to the championship lead.

Verstappen arrived in Mexico off the back of three wins and two second places in the past five rounds, and had rapidly reduced Piastri’s advantage to just 40 points. As the weekend unfolded at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, it became clear Verstappen did not have the pace to challenge for victory, but he was able to salvage a podium that further outscored Piastri, and leaves him 36 points adrift of Norris.

A year ago, the roles were somewhat reversed, as Norris was the one hunting down Verstappen, sitting 47 points back of the championship leader arriving at Interlagos.

After cutting that gap to 44 points after the Sprint, Norris started on pole with Verstappen in 17th due to a grid penalty, but a remarkable performance in the wet saw the Dutchman climb through the field to win. With Norris finishing sixth, the gap was extended to 62 points with three rounds remaining, and Verstappen was able to clinch the championship at the next round.

Although the gaps are smaller this year, it shows how one result can totally change the complexion of the championship picture at this stage of the season, and Verstappen will be keen to ensure he at least stays in the frame heading to Las Vegas to kick-off the final triple header.

Close fights in the Teams’ Championship

Although a lot of the focus is on what is happening at the top of the Drivers’ Championship, there are some thrilling battles ongoing when it comes to the Teams’ standings.

Second place is currently occupied by Ferrari, but like Norris in the Drivers’ standings, they are just one point ahead of the next team, with Mercedes sitting in third place. Red Bull are also right in the mix, with double points in three of the last six races allowing them to stay just 10 points back of Ferrari.

The fluctuating form between the front-running teams makes it tough to predict who will come out on top, although Red Bull will likely need some more wins from Verstappen to have a chance of moving further up the order.

While Williams appear relatively secure in fifth place overall, behind them there is another tense fight for sixth. Racing Bulls currently occupy sixth position on 72 points, but Aston Martin (69), Haas (62) and Sauber (60) are all very much in contention, following a big result for Haas in Mexico.

A year ago, Alpine secured a shock double podium to move from eighth to sixth in one go, so there’s history of Interlagos offering up opportunities for significant scores.

Driver futures still uncertain

The 2025 silly season has been far less dramatic than a year ago, but as we enter November there are still quite a few unknowns when it comes to who will be driving where next season.

The majority of those questions relate to the Red Bull driver line-up, across both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls.

Verstappen is secure at Red Bull, but the identity of his team mate remains unknown. Yuki Tsunoda currently holds the seat, but Isack Hadjar has been linked with a promotion, and with Arvid Lindblad pushing for a Racing Bulls chance, it could become a straight fight between Tsunoda and Liam Lawson for the remaining position.

Alpine have also yet to finalise their line-up for next year, with Franco Colapinto trying to retain his seat alongside Pierre Gasly. Colapinto will receive significant support from fans in South America during the Sao Paulo Grand Prix weekend, and it could mark a good time to confirm his future if he is to stay put.

Another Sprint amid unsettled weather

Aside from the final results, if there is one thing that stands out when thinking back to last year’s race, it is the weather.

The Sprint means there are an extra eight points on offer on the Saturday, and a year ago that race was followed by heavy rain and thunderstorms that pushed Qualifying back to early on Sunday morning. The race itself was also wet, providing the ingredients for a classic drive from Verstappen as he went from 17th on the grid to victory.

The long-term forecast suggests there could be rain and thunderstorms again during the race weekend, and that always opens up the opportunity for some unexpected results. But whatever the weather, the iconic Interlagos circuit and the passionate Brazilian fans often combine for a special race that could prove pivotal when it comes to the championship.