2025 F1 Brazilian GP: Preview and Predictions

The 2025 F1 Brazilian GP will kick off what would be the first of the last four races of the 24-race season. Not many would have expected the championship to have these many topsy-turvy moments ahead of the second half of the season, but here we are.

Lando Norris leads Oscar Piastri in the championship by one point, and we have Max Verstappen 36 points behind, continuing to close in on the lead every race.

São Paulo was home to an iconic race last season when the Red Bull put on an exhibition and, in essence, sealed the championship. What can we expect this time around? Let's take a look at our preview of the F1 Brazilian GP.

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2025 F1 Brazilian GP: Preview

Key Storylines

#1 Oscar Piastri's form

Questions have been raised about Oscar Piastri's performance since he won in Zandvoort, as the form has seemingly disappeared and the driver has struggled. The answer to that question is not straightforward, and the best person to address it is the Aussie.

A driver who has built a very young career on a perception of his mental strength is in the eye of the storm right now. The F1 Brazilian GP will be the first race that goes a long way in how the driver is perceived.

#2 The pecking order

McLaren, in the hands of Lando Norris, romped off into the distance and won comfortably in Mexico. The gap was so big that it raised question marks over Max Verstappen's status as a contender in the championship.

The F1 Brazilian GP is arguably going to answer a lot of questions on that front and how the next 4 races could go.

#3 The conditions

If we take a look at the forecast, the F1 Brazilian GP is expected to have rain making an appearance on all three days. Last season, when it rained, Max Verstappen put together one of the greatest wins in the history of the sport, and this time around, once again, many would be looking at the rain as this great equalizer.

Whether it ends up being one or not is going to be a major question throughout the race weekend.

Form Guide

In Form

It's taken one scintillating performance from Ollie Bearman for many to anoint him as the next big thing for Ferrari. The British driver had a tough start to his rookie campaign this season, but he has slowly and steadily come to grips with it and put Esteban Ocon in the shade.

The F1 Brazilian GP was not very rewarding for him last season, and he would be looking to right that wrong this time around.

Out of Form

On one side, we have Ollie Bearman, who is shining bright, and on the other, we have Esteban Ocon, who seems to be struggling to get to grips with the Haas under him.

The driver hasn't looked comfortable in the car for a while this season, but with his teammate snatching another strong result, questions would be asked about Ocon's role as he continues to be an afterthought at the American team for the time being.

Driver with the biggest spotlight

If it's not Lewis Hamilton, then who else? The driver is now an honorary citizen of Brazil, and his love for the country is no secret whatsoever.

The British driver comes to the F1 Brazilian GP on the back of his leanest run without a podium in his career. The wet weather might just be the answer for him to get things back on track.

2025 F1 Brazilian GP: Predictions

Who wins the race?

Red Bull should be a stronger car at the F1 Brazilian GP compared to what it was in Mexico. The rain could initially play a role in helping McLaren, a team with otherworldly rear tire management, something that's pivotal for success in these conditions.

At the same time, there are other key factors that play a role in these conditions that include having the acuity to pick the right strategy. That's where Red Bull should have the edge in the F1 Brazilian GP over McLaren, and that's why we're picking the Dutch driver to triumph on Sunday.

Biggest surprise of the weekend? (Team)

Alpine has had the slowest car for a large part of the year, but the conditions in which it tends to excel this season have been the slippery, cooler, low-grip characteristics of the wet weather. The team had a double podium the last time we had an F1 Brazilian GP. If the rain plays a part, expect a stronger run from the French team.

Biggest surprise of the weekend? (Driver)

Watch out for Lewis Hamilton. The British driver has excelled in the wet weather in a Ferrari this season. The F1 Brazilian GP also is a race where the 'vibes' are positive for the legend. Maybe this is the race where Lewis Hamilton breaks his podium duck with the team.

Biggest disappointment of the weekend? (Team)

If the wet weather form guide is anything to go by, Haas might not be having the best run in Brazil. For some reason, the car has just taken a step back whenever we've had wet weather conditions, and this weekend could end up being quite similar on that front.

Biggest disappointment of the weekend? (Driver)

Yuki Tsunoda might be in the last four races of his current F1 stint. While Red Bull has held off taking a call on its driver lineup, there's a sense that the team has made the call to keep Yuki Tsunoda motivated for the rest of the season.

The Japanese driver is fighting an uphill battle anyway, as the entire focus ends up being on Max Verstappen and hence compromising what Tsunoda could achieve in the car.

Edited by Tushhita Barua