The best moments from the São Paulo Grand Prix

Welcome to our regular post-race round-up, a final look at the action, where we’ll break down the best and the bonkers of F1 from across the weekend. From our favourite photos to the slickest fits we spotted, plus all the behind-the-scenes goodness you might have missed.

For the first time since 2012, a McLaren driver stood at the top of the podium following a Grand Prix in Interlagos, as Lando became our first winner in São Paulo since Jenson Button.

In doing so, he joined an illustrious list of names to have won in Brazil for McLaren, including Emerson Fittipaldi, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Mika Häkkinen, David Coulthard, Juan Pablo Montoya, and, of course, Jenson – who has announced that he will now conclude his distinguished professional motor racing career following this weekend’s Bahrain 8 Hours.

Lando’s victory capped off a captivating round in São Paulo, packed full of action, including Oscar’s recovery drive to fifth following a 10-second penalty. There was just as much action off the track, including Brazil’s hidden dress code and the return of an icon to the McLaren garage. Here, we’ll look at the best of Brazil…

You may have missed

Bom dia, old friend

Back in the 1970s, Emmo played a pivotal role in igniting Brazil’s passion for Formula 1 and cultivating McLaren fans’ deep-rooted love of Brazilian racing drivers.

After winning the first-ever Brazilian Grand Prix in 1973 - a year after he had become his country’s first Formula 1 World Champion - Emmo defected to McLaren for the 1974 season, where he hoped to challenge for a second title. In only his second race, he claimed his second home race victory at Interlagos. The enigmatic Brazilian went on to record another two wins as he charged to a second World Championship, earning the McLaren F1 team its first.

More than 60 years on, during which time he is credited with mentoring a certain Ayrton Senna, Emmo remains as revered among the Brazilian fanbase and the McLaren faithful as ever. During this weekend’s race in São Paulo, the popular Brazilian was back in the McLaren garage with the team, catching up with old friends and watching on as Lando charged to McLaren’s first Grand Prix win in Brazil since in 2012.

Best of social media

Joga bonito

The Formula 1 paddock is a hive of activity, unique in that it combines, in very close quarters, those working the race with those there for pleasure. When these two worlds collide, enjoyable quirks often manifest themselves.

And while Formula 1 holds a special place in the heart of Brazilian culture, no sport has quite such a grip on the locals as football. This lil’ baller’s love of the game was on show in the paddock on Thursday, performing tricks and striking his football against the tyres, while teams worked around him, preparing for their race weekends.

Outfit of the weekend

Painting Brazil beige

Who received the dress code memo for Brazil?

While many in the paddock opted to paint Brazil beige, Oscar went against the grain and chose a darker, more casual look, pairing a black hoodie with dark blue jeans. It was a look typical of the Australian, but one that stood out given that many had brought their finest beige wardrobe options – which, we must say, each wore well in their own right.

Photo of the weekend

It's all a bit bananas

It will surprise absolutely none of you that, overwhelmingly, the majority of comments were asking why they were holding a papaya – despite us explicitly suggesting you didn’t.

The answer? They’re not – it’s a banana. Now, that’s put a spanner in the works, hasn’t it?

Confused? So were Lando and Oscar, as we challenged them to a guessing game with a twist. A small wall was erected between the pair, and each was given an object: Lando was handed a spanner, and Oscar a papaya. Their task? To guess what was behind each other’s wall.

Before submitting their guesses, each driver could describe their object as faithfully – or as unfaithfully – as they liked (have you sussed out where our inspiration came from?). Oscar claimed his papaya was a banana, which Lando correctly guessed – albeit after a few attempts – and the duo celebrated with a selfie.

Moment of the weekend

Knocking it out of the park

Even Lando couldn’t hold in a smile and help but laugh as his usual post-session walk and talk reaction video after Sprint Qualifying was briefly interrupted by a fan shouting, “I love you, Lando! You’re perfect!” Little did either of them know that his weekend would quite literally end up being just that: perfect.

Topping all five sessions, Lando didn’t put a foot wrong all round, winning both the Sprint and the Grand Prix from Pole to claim his first-ever clean sweep in a Sprint event.

This was a historic weekend for Lando Norris in São Paulo – one of his most complete in Formula 1 to date - at a circuit in Interlagos that has hosted so many iconic McLaren moments. The Championship leader earned his 11th Formula 1 Grand Prix victory at an 11th different circuit – a result that sees him move into the top 10 British drivers for Grand Prix wins, overtaking 1976 McLaren World Champion James Hunt.

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