Mixed fortunes in São Paulo

Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team driver, Lance Stroll, finished P16 in the 2025 São Paulo Grand Prix, where he’d previously had a race-affected weekend in 2024.

Sole Practice in São Paulo

Due to the Sprint format this weekend, there was only one Free Practice session, so it was important to learn as much information as possible.

After a delayed start to FP1, Lance was straight out on track on the Hard tyre. He remained on the tyre for most of the session before switching to Mediums with ten minutes remaining.

Lance collected a total of 31 laps of information which he worked on analysing ahead of Sprint Qualifying.

WATCH: 2025 SÃO PAULO GRAND PRIX FP1 HIGHLIGHTS

Eyeing up the points positions

During Sprint Qualifying, on the mandatory Medium tyre of SQ1, Lance set a time of 1:10.326 and successfully got through to the second Sprint Qualifying segment.

Continuing to improve, a time of 1:09.647 in SQ2 saw Lance safely through to SQ3.

Lance opted to wait in the pits until three minutes remained on the clock during SQ3. With just one lap to set a time, he claimed P7 in a positive start to the weekend.

WATCH: 2025 SÃO PAULO GRAND PRIX SPRINT QUALIFYING HIGHLIGHTS

Top-ten finish in the Sprint

Rain hit Autódromo José Carlos Pace ahead of the Sprint, resulting in patches of water on the track, particularly in the final sector.

On the Medium tyre, Lance started from P7.

On Lap 6, a Red Flag paused running, and Lance took the opportunity to switch onto the Soft tyre. The session resumed with a rolling start, and Lance worked on defending from those behind him.

Concluding the Sprint in P9, Lance finished just outside the points positions.

WATCH: 2025 SÃO PAULO GRAND PRIX SPRINT HIGHLIGHTS

P14 in Qualifying

Lance began Q1 with a lap on the Mediums to get up to speed before setting a lap on Soft tyres. With a time of 1:10.041, he was through to Q2 in P8.

In Q2, Lance’s time of 1:10.161 on the Soft compound meant he secured a P14-start for Sunday’s race.

WATCH: 2025 SÃO PAULO GRAND PRIX SPRINT QUALIFYING HIGHLIGHTS

Misfortune at Autódromo José Carlos Pace

Lance began the race on the Hard tyre from P14.

Several incidents occurred during the opening laps. A Safety Car came out following incidents on Lap 1, and when the race restarted on Lap 5, additional incidents took place.

Lance was unfortunately affected after contact from Yuki Tsunoda, and when the race restarted on Lap 8, Lance was in P17.

At the end of Lap 29, Lance pitted for Medium tyres.

He made his second pitstop on Lap 54 for fresh Mediums and completed the race in P16.

Lance’s season will continue under the lights of Las Vegas on 21-23 November.‍

WATCH: 2025 SÃO PAULO GRAND PRIX HIGHLIGHTS

Lance Stroll, Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team, said:

"Not the most positive weekend for us at Interlagos. We looked more competitive in the Sprint and less so in Qualifying and the race today. The incident with Yuki [Tsunoda] ended our chances in the race: we tried to come back, but just lost too much time there. The Hard tyre wasn't working well for us either, but in the end it was down to a lack of car pace. We go again in Las Vegas in two weeks' time and will see what we can do there."