News Summary

Isack Hadjar was Red Bull’s leading driver around halfway through the São Paulo Grand Prix. He was within five seconds of Lando Norris at that stage, with Max Verstappen closing behind him. On lap 38, Red Bull asked Hadjar to give up second place so Verstappen could chase the McLaren. Hadjar let him through and went on to finish third.

Hadjar had started fifth after Saturday’s wet qualifying and the ensuing grid penalties. He passed Liam Lawson in the opening stint and then overtook Andrea Kimi Antonelli after the Mercedes driver’s first spin. Hadjar’s move on Antonelli put him second on merit before Verstappen reached him.

Hadjar asks what happens if Verstappen cannot catch Norris

After yielding the place, Hadjar asked over the radio what would happen if Verstappen failed to pass Norris. Verstappen pulled away from Hadjar but made little headway against the leader, and the Red Bulls finished in the order established by the swap.

Hadjar described the race as “so, so difficult” in his post-race interview, pointing to the challenge of adapting as the tyres and conditions changed. He finished 9.883s behind Verstappen and 9.506s ahead of George Russell, taking his third podium of the season.

The result took Hadjar to 122 points, 30 behind seventh-placed Oscar Piastri. Red Bull matched McLaren’s 33 points at Interlagos and retained its 17-point advantage over McLaren for third in the constructors’ standings.

GRANDE PRÊMIO is following every session of the São Paulo Grand Prix in Formula 1 live from Interlagos.