Norris wins Brazilian GP Sprint amid controversy as Verstappen faces VSC investigation
SAO PAULO -- Lando Norris clinched victory in Saturday’s sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix, thanks to team orders from McLaren that saw teammate Oscar Piastri relinquish the lead in the closing laps.
Piastri had dominated 21 of the 24 laps before yielding to Norris on Lap 22, in a strategic move to bolster the British driver's championship aspirations. Max Verstappen, Norris’s title rival, had surged to third place by Lap 18, intensifying the need for McLaren's tactical decision.
Norris’s win, with Piastri securing second and Verstappen in third, trimmed the championship lead down to 45 points. The swap occurred just before a Virtual Safety Car (VSC) was activated at the end of Lap 22 to manage Nico Hulkenberg’s immobilized Haas.
Race action resumed as leaders approached Turn 4 on the final lap, where Verstappen’s attempt to overtake Piastri fell short. Verstappen later faced a post-race investigation for a potential VSC infringement related to the restart.
McLaren's execution of the team order came amid tense moments earlier in the race. Norris radioed his team on Lap 7 expressing confusion: "I'm not sure what I'm doing here mate. I thought we spoke about this." The initial plan to swap positions on the final lap was abandoned after Hulkenberg’s stoppage prompted the VSC.
The strategy worked seamlessly before the VSC, although it allowed Verstappen to close in on Piastri and make an unsuccessful pass attempt when racing resumed on Lap 24.
Beyond the podium, Charles Leclerc finished fourth, followed by Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz in fifth. George Russell had a solitary race to sixth for Mercedes, with Pierre Gasly securing seventh for Alpine.
Sergio Perez captured the final point with a decisive pass on RB's Liam Lawson at Turn 1 on Lap 20, a week after their tense confrontations in Mexico amidst ongoing speculation about Perez’s future at Red Bull.
Norris’s win not only underscores McLaren’s strategic acumen but also revitalizes his challenge in the championship race.
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