Lando Norris, second in the Formula 1 world championship, won the sprint race of the Brazilian Grand Prix on Saturday, the 21st round of the season out of 24, and takes two points from leader Max Verstappen, 3rd.
The Briton from McLaren beat his teammate, pole-sitter Oscar Piastri, finally second after leading the race for a long time.
The Australian 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 in front of 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 assured that Piastri “deserved” the 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 finished 3rd, after a “fairly tricky” sprint, he admitted, “but the pace was quite good”.
The Red Bull driver is, however, under investigation for a possible infraction committed under the virtual safety car regime, which occurred at the end of the race after a mechanical problem on the Haas of German Nico Hulkenberg. A decision from the commissioners is expected today.
In the championship, the Dutchman lost two points to his rival Norris. He now has a 45-point lead before the traditional Grand Prix which will be contested on Sunday, from 6:00 p.m. (Paris time), at the end of which up to 26 points will be up for grabs.
The Monegasque Charles Leclerc, long third in the sprint race ahead of Verstappen, failed at the foot of the podium. His Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz, winner of the last GP in Mexico, finished 5th.
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 other Frenchman from Alpine, Esteban Ocon, finished outside the points, in 13th place.
