Lando Norris delivered a stunning performance at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix sprint race, leading a McLaren 1-2 and significantly closing the gap to championship leader Max Verstappen.
This strategic victory, aided by a well-timed team order for Oscar Piastri, has injected fresh excitement into the 2024 Formula 1 season.
The decisive moment came with two laps remaining when Piastri graciously yielded the position to Norris under team orders. This tactical move proved crucial as a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) was deployed shortly after, freezing the positions and allowing Norris to maintain his lead.
Norris expressed mixed feelings about the team order, acknowledging Piastri’s deserving performance but emphasizing the team’s collective goal.
“Not proud about it, but we worked well as a team together, so I thank Oscar. We’ve done a great job as a team. Today was the result that we wanted,” he said.
Verstappen, under investigation for a potential VSC infringement, saw his championship lead reduced to 45 points with just three races and one sprint remaining.
Charles Leclerc, who had impressively held off Verstappen for 18 laps, faced a late-race setback, dropping to fourth behind the Dutchman.
Mercedes’ George Russell finished sixth, while Red Bull’s Sergio Perez staged a remarkable recovery from 13th to eighth. Lewis Hamilton, struggling with another disappointing qualifying result, could only manage 11th place.
McLaren’s dominant performance has solidified their position at the top of the constructors’ championship, extending their lead over Ferrari to 35 points. With the championship battle heating up and uncertainties surrounding potential penalties for Verstappen, the final races of the season promise to be thrilling.