Speaking to Sky Sports after the race, the drivers confirmed there was a bit of contact after Hadjar\u2019s attempt \u2013 which Lawson managed to see off \u2013 but ultimately everything turned out all right.<\/p>\n
Isack Hadjar (right) and his Racing Bulls teammate Liam Lawson. Photo \/ Red Bull<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the last lap of the race. As much as it\u2019s the ideal thing to do, there\u2019s no way that we\u2019re not going to race for a position like that. I respect it,\u201d Lawson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re lucky that we came out of it, but it\u2019s been a great weekend for the team<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Hadjar admitted he pushed it \u201ca little too much\u201d in trying to make the move on Lawson stick.<\/p>\n \u201cI overdid it; kind of my mistake but just the strategy on the first couple of laps was not good enough.\u201d<\/p>\n Hadjar was not thrilled<\/a> with his eighth-placed finish \u2013 noting it was a good day for the team \u201cbut not for me\u201d \u2013 having started fifth on the grid<\/a>.<\/p>\n Lawson had about as good a drive as he could have in the race, getting everything out of the set of medium tyres equipped on lap 20 of the 71-lap race.<\/p>\n It was a race where strategy seemed like it would come into play. Both Racing Bulls drivers were among the eight drivers starting on soft tyres, with seven drivers on mediums, and five on hards.<\/p>\n Strategies had to be altered almost immediately, however, when Kick Sauber\u2019s Gabriel Bortoleto went into the wall on lap one, which saw the safety car come out on the track.<\/p>\n A virtual safety car \u2013 a system used to slow the drivers down without the safety car needing to be out on track \u2013 was then in play when Ferrari\u2019s Charles Leclerc was forced out of the race about seven laps in.<\/p>\n McLaren\u2019s Lando Norris won the race to extend his lead in the Drivers\u2019 Championship with three events remaining, ahead of Mercedes\u2019 Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull\u2019s Max Verstappen \u2013 the latter claiming a podium finish after starting in the pit lane.<\/p>\n Sao Paulo Grand Prix results<\/p>\n Lando Norris \u2013 McLarenKimi Antonelli \u2013 MercedesMax Verstappen \u2013 Red BullGeorge Russell \u2013 MercedesOscar Piastri \u2013 McLarenOliver Bearman \u2013 HaasLiam Lawson \u2013 Racing BullsIsack Hadjar \u2013 Racing BullsNico Hulkenberg \u2013 Kick SauberPierre Gasly \u2013 AlpineAlex Albon \u2013 WilliamsEsteban Ocon \u2013 HaasCarlos Sainz \u2013 WilliamsFernando Alonso \u2013 Aston MartinFranco Colapinto \u2013 AlpineLance Stroll \u2013 Aston MartinYuki Tsunoda \u2013 Red Bull<\/p>\n DNF: Gabriel Bortoleto \u2013 Kick Sauber, Lewis Hamilton \u2013 Ferrari, Charles Leclerc \u2013 Ferrari.<\/p>\n