Adjusted Starting Grid for 2025 F1 Brazilian Grand Prix After Max Verstappen’s Penalty
The stage is set for an unpredictable and thrilling 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix, with McLaren’s Lando Norris leading the field from pole position. The updated starting grid looks dramatically different following Max Verstappen’s latest setback — a pit lane start after Red Bull made crucial component and setup changes on his RB21 in breach of parc fermé rules.
Norris, who has been in superb form this season, secured pole with a blistering lap time that put him almost two-tenths of a second ahead of Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli. The young Italian continues to impress in his debut season, proving that he’s not just Mercedes’ future but a current threat to the sport’s biggest names.
Behind the front row, Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc lines up third, eager to salvage a strong result for the Scuderia after a mixed weekend for the team. Leclerc’s pace has been solid, and with Verstappen starting from the pit lane, Ferrari might sense an opportunity to score big points. Alongside him on the second row is Oscar Piastri, who will be determined to bounce back after crashing out of Saturday’s sprint race. The Australian’s McLaren has looked competitive all weekend, and he’ll be looking to support Norris in what could be a crucial race for McLaren’s championship ambitions.
Further down the order, the third row features two young and hungry drivers — Isack Hadjar of Racing Bulls and George Russell of Mercedes. Hadjar’s fifth-place qualifying result marks his best career start in Formula 1, showing that the Red Bull junior team’s faith in him is paying off. Russell, meanwhile, will be hoping for a clean start to put pressure on the front runners after an inconsistent run of form in recent races.
Racing Bulls have another reason to celebrate, with Liam Lawson starting from seventh, making it both cars in the top ten — a rare and impressive feat for the Faenza-based outfit. Behind them, Haas rookie Oliver Bearman starts eighth, continuing his streak of solid performances that are quickly making him one of the most talked-about young talents on the grid.
Pierre Gasly starts ninth for Alpine, ahead of Nico Hülkenberg in tenth for Stake F1. Both drivers have been consistent midfield performers this season and will be looking to take advantage of any chaos ahead, especially with Verstappen and several key names starting out of position.
Fernando Alonso lines up in 11th for Aston Martin, just outside the top ten, while Alex Albon’s Williams starts 12th. Albon continues to outperform expectations, extracting strong pace from a car that still lacks consistency. Lewis Hamilton’s struggles, meanwhile, continued as the seven-time world champion could only manage 13th in his Ferrari. After a difficult qualifying session, Hamilton admitted that the team is “mentally not in a good place” and that setup issues have plagued his entire weekend.
Behind Hamilton, Lance Stroll starts 14th for Aston Martin, followed by Carlos Sainz in 15th. Sainz, now driving for Williams, has found it difficult to adapt to his new team’s machinery, though his experience could help him make progress through the field on race day. Esteban Ocon will start 16th for Haas, just ahead of Franco Colapinto, who continues to develop steadily in his rookie season with Alpine.
Red Bull’s other driver, Yuki Tsunoda, starts 18th after also struggling during qualifying. The Japanese driver has faced handling issues throughout the weekend, and with his teammate Verstappen starting from the pit lane, Red Bull faces one of its most challenging Sundays in recent memory. Stake’s Gabriel Bortoleto lines up 19th, completing the back of the grid before the pit lane starter.
That leaves Max Verstappen, the defending world champion, in the pit lane. The Dutchman’s weekend has gone from bad to worse — first suffering his first Q1 elimination since the 2021 Russian Grand Prix, then facing an enforced penalty after Red Bull opted to change power unit components and adjust his setup to improve performance. Because such changes violate parc fermé regulations, Verstappen will now have to begin from the pit lane, hoping for a miracle drive through the field.
This marks one of the rare weekends in recent years where Red Bull has found itself on the back foot. Verstappen’s frustration was evident after qualifying, but the team’s decision to reset the car shows that they are willing to take risks rather than settle for mediocrity. The Dutchman has produced several stunning comeback drives in his career, and fans will be eager to see how far he can climb on race day at Interlagos — a circuit known for chaos, safety cars, and unpredictable weather.
As it stands, the grid remains provisional until officially confirmed by the FIA, but the reshuffled lineup promises a dramatic contest. With Norris and Antonelli leading the charge, Leclerc and Piastri right behind, and Verstappen starting from the pit lane, the Brazilian Grand Prix is shaping up to be one of the most exciting races of the 2025 Formula 1 season.
Provisional Starting Grid – 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix
1. Lando Norris (McLaren)
2. Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes)
3. Charles Leclerc (Ferrari)
4. Oscar Piastri (McLaren)
5. Isack Hadjar (Racing Bulls)
6. George Russell (Mercedes)
7. Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls)
8. Oliver Bearman (Haas)
9. Pierre Gasly (Alpine)
10. Nico Hülkenberg (Stake)
11. Fernando Alonso (Aston Martin)
12. Alex Albon (Williams)
13. Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari)
14. Lance Stroll (Aston Martin)
15. Carlos Sainz (Williams)
16. Esteban Ocon (Haas)
17. Franco Colapinto (Alpine)
18. Yuki Tsunoda (
Red Bull)
19. Gabriel Bortoleto (Stake)
Pit Lane: Max Verstappen (Red Bull)
