Carlos Sainz has defended his former McLaren team-mate Lando Norris.
Norris and Max Verstappen's world championship battle ended with the latter's fourth consecutive title, with many criticizing the McLaren driver's mistakes and alleged mental weaknesses throughout his 2024 campaign.
The 25-year-old led throughout Saturday's sprint race in Qatar, before slowing down and letting teammate Oscar Piastri take victory – only to return Piastri's similar move in Brazil.
When asked for his thoughts on this exchange, Sainz said: “They’re teammates, so it’s probably a little easier to do it between teammates.”
“But the truth is that they did well and they also deserve to be congratulated for returning Oscar to his position won on merit in Brazil.”
“It says a lot about Lando as a driver and as a person, despite the criticism he receives.”
“People like to criticize what he does, but he continues to show courage and is a gentleman on and off the track, so congratulations.”
As the end of the season approaches, McLaren leads the constructors' championship, but Ferrari continues to do its best to close the gap in the standings ahead of the final GP in Abu Dhabi. McLaren can win the title right away, unless Ferrari manages to concede no more than 14 points to its rival. The ideal is still to reduce the current gap which has risen to 30 points.
“It's getting difficult but not impossible. In the race we are perhaps stronger. We have to focus on how we can get ahead of them this Sunday, although we will have to gain at least two tenths with the softer tires in racing pace. We have ideas.”
