SAO PAULO, Nov 10: McLaren driver Lando Norris significantly extended his lead in the F1 championship after winning the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday, with his main rival and teammate Oscar Piastri receiving a 10-second penalty and again failing to make the podium.
Norris, who also won Saturday’s sprint race and started from pole position, earned his first win at Interlagos with Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen second and third, respectively.
Norris, who also won the Mexican Grand Prix on Oct. 26, now has 390 points in the standings, with Piastri’s fifth place leaving him 24 points behind on 366 with three more races to go. Norris had led the Australian by one point at the start of the weekend and increased that lead to nine points after the sprint race.
At a press conference after the race, Norris said that he doesn’t feel he is now in a commanding position to win the title, calling it “just another weekend trying to win, get the most points I could.”
Piastri has struggled lately; he is now winless in six races and has not reached the podium since Monza in Italy two months ago when he finished third.
Four-time world champion Verstappen has 341 points in third place overall and has played down his title chances.
It was a frustrating weekend for Ferrari drivers. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton both failed to finished the race in Sao Paulo.
‘Still a long way to go’
Norris won his seventh race of the season, the same number as Piastri. Asked after the race how he managed to bounce back in the championship, Norris replied: “Just ignore everyone who talked crap about you.”
He added, “Still a long way to go (in the drivers’ championship), this could change so quickly.”
Piastri’s chances were hurt shortly after lap 8, when he made contact with Antonelli as they fought for second position.
Piastri pushed the Mercedes driver into Leclerc, who was forced to retire as a result. Piastri, who started the race in fourth spot, later received his time penalty for causing the collision.
The next Grand Prix is in Las Vegas in two weeks’ time. Norris said he is not confident he and McLaren will compete for a win there. (AP)
