Lando Norris is now 24 points clear at the top of the Formula 1 standings with three rounds left and is the clear title favourite over Oscar Piastri and Max Verstappen
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Lando Norris is in control of the F1 title race after his Brazil win(Image: Getty Images)
Lando Norris believes his decision to “ignore everyone who talks crap” is the key factor behind his late-season charge to Formula 1 glory. The Brit is now the clear title favourite after a win from pole in Sao Paulo which put him 24 points ahead of team-mate Oscar Piastri with three rounds left.
Max Verstappen stole some of the spotlight yesterday with a second outrageous comeback drive in as many years at Interlagos. The Red Bull racer didn’t win this time but, starting from the pit lane after a wretched qualifying, he didn’t even need rain to cut through the field and finish third, less than 11 seconds off the lead.
But the day belonged to Norris, his maiden Brazil victory and McLaren’s first since Jenson Button in 2012, and he was delighted to win an “amazing race”.
He said: “It was a perfect weekend… I don’t think we were the quickest out there on track today, but I’m glad to take home the win. I just ignore everyone who talks crap and focus on myself. The team is doing an amazing job and have given me a great car.”
Though Norris is not content with McLaren’s current pace having been left worried by Verstappen’s comeback drive. He added: “It’s a great win but, seeing how quick Max was today, I’m disappointed that we weren’t quicker. That’s where my mind is, at the moment.”
Few would have written Verstappen off pre-race, given his remarkable win from 17th on the grid last year in chaotic conditions. There was no rain to help him this time but a bold decision to change set-up and start from the pit lane paid off as he found pace in his Red Bull for the first time all weekend.
The Dutchman beamed: “I didn’t expect that at all. To finish only 10 seconds from the lead is incredible. We could have easily said after the Sprint, ‘Let’s not touch the car, it’s not too bad, let’s not risk it’. But that’s not the mentality of the team – we always want to find more performance.”
Though, 49 points back from Norris, he knows a fifth-straight title is beyond him now. Verstappen added: “We lost way too many points in the beginning of the season. That we were in that up until now was quite a surprise, but we have to be realistic.”
He was held off in the final laps by Kimi Antonelli who had a superb weekend and capped it with his best F1 result to date. The Mercedes teenager said: “It would be amazing to get the first win by the end of the season, but we know it’s not going to be easy. But who knows? If we keep up like this and we’re able to extract the best out of the car, I think it’s very achievable.”
It was a disaster day again for Ferrari as Charles Leclerc crashed out and Lewis Hamilton also retired with damage. The glum seven-time champion, an honorary Brazilian citizen, said: “This is a nightmare and I’ve been living it for a while. To flip between the dream of driving for this amazing team and the nightmare of the results we’ve had, the ups and downs, it’s challenging. I really wanted to get into the points this weekend, but I’ll come back as strong as I can in the next race and try to recover it.”
