São Paulo GP stewards hand out three post-race penalties to Antonelli, Leclerc and Bearman

Formula 1 stewards issued three post-race rulings (documents 78, 79 and 80) on November 9 after the São Paulo Grand Prix, handing five-second time penalties to Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc and Haas driver Oliver Bearman.

Antonelli was released unsafely from his pit stop late in the race as rain returned to Interlagos, nearly colliding with Alpine's Franco Colapinto, who was driving down the fast lane. Antonelli momentarily lost control on the slippery surface and had to take evasive action to avoid a crash. The stewards ruled the release unsafe under Article B1.6.2a of the FIA Formula 1 Sporting Regulations and imposed a five-second penalty; Mercedes admitted the release could have been done more safely. Antonelli kept fifth place thanks to his large margin over Oscar Piastri.

Leclerc drops to eighth as Lawson moves up to seventh

Leclerc was penalised for contact with Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson at Turn 12 in the closing stages while fighting for seventh place, hitting Lawson's left-rear wheel before completing the pass. The stewards ruled the contact had “an obvious sporting consequence” in helping Leclerc complete the move and imposed a five-second penalty. Once applied, Leclerc fell to eighth and Lawson moved up to seventh, gaining two championship points.

Bearman received the same five-second penalty for an unsafe release that forced Leclerc to brake and take evasive action toward the pit wall. Bearman remained 17th after the penalty, his position unchanged.

Race recap: Norris wins as Mercedes seal the constructors' title

Sunday's race was run in changeable weather, with McLaren's Lando Norris converting pole position into victory, finishing 14.602 seconds ahead of Max Verstappen, who recovered from 21st on the grid; Red Bull's Isack Hadjar completed the podium in third. Mercedes sealed the constructors' championship with three races to spare thanks to George Russell's fourth place and Antonelli's fifth — the team's first constructors' crown since 2021 and the ninth in its history. (Photo: file image of the Interlagos circuit.)