Lando Norris, second in the Formula 1 world championship, won the sprint race of the Brazilian GP this Saturday. And this in front of his teammate Oscar Piastri.
Lando Norris, second in the Formula 1 world championship standings, won the sprint race of the Brazilian Grand Prix on Saturday ahead of his teammate Oscar Piastri and takes three points from leader Max Verstappen, 4th after being penalized. For his first victory in a sprint, the Briton can thank Piastri: leading the race from pole for a long time, the Australian finally gave up his position to Norris two laps from the end, at the request of his team: “we talked about it before the race (…), that was always the plan”assured Piastri to the press.
In September, McLaren explained that it would now favor Norris over his teammate in the drivers' title race. “Not proud” of this decision on Saturday, Norris explained that Piastri “deserved” victory. “But we do what we have to do (…). I think we were clearly faster than the guys behind.he also said at the finish of this race of only 24 laps.
Championship leader Max Verstappen crossed the finish line 3rd – although no victory had yet escaped him this season. However, the three-time reigning world champion was then handed a five-second penalty after being found guilty of a virtual safety car infraction, which occurred late in the race after a mechanical problem in the Haas car. the German Nico Hulkenberg. The Red Bull driver therefore lost his place on the podium to the benefit of Monegasque Charles Leclerc (Ferrari).
In the championship, Verstappen thus gave up three points – and no longer two – to his rival Norris. He now has a 44-point lead before the traditional Grand Prix which will be contested on Sunday, from 5:00 p.m. GMT, at the end of which up to 26 points will be up for grabs.
Tributes to Senna
The Spaniard Carlos Sainz, winner of the last GP in Mexico, finished 5th at the wheel of his Ferrari. This was followed by the Mercedes of George Russell, 6th, and the Alpine of Frenchman Pierre Gasly, 7th. Mexican Sergio Pérez (Red Bull) completed the Top 8.
The Brazilian GP, 21st round out of 24 of the season, is the penultimate of the six rounds of the year to offer a sprint format, which modifies the course of the weekend. Thus, the drivers only completed one free practice session on Friday before qualifying which determined the grid for the sprint race.
Saturday afternoon, the drivers will compete in “classic” qualifying (from 6:00 p.m. GMT), which will determine the starting grid for Sunday’s GP where Verstappen will only start, at best, 6th. Indeed, the three-time reigning champion received a penalty of five places due to a change of internal combustion engine beyond the authorized quotas. This sanction did not apply at the start of the sprint race.
On the sidelines of the championship, this weekend is also an opportunity for the paddock to pay a new tribute to the Brazilian F1 legend, Ayrton Senna. Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, honored in 2022 with the title of honorary citizen of Brazil, will take the wheel of his idol's 1990 McLaren at the end of the day on Saturday, who died 30 years ago in a racing accident at Imola .
