‘the Goal Is To Win All The Final Races’: Norris Raises Bar Before São Paulo Gp

Lando Norris has acknowledged that he needs to beryllium astatine nan very apical of his crippled to effort to unafraid his first world championship, arsenic nan British driver heads into this weekend’s São Paulo Grand Prix pinch a constrictive one-point lead complete his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri.

Norris had trailed Piastri by 34 points aft nan Dutch GP but pinch a bid of beardown results including a ascendant triumph from rod to flag astatine nan past information successful Mexico, Norris has edged up successful nan title title for nan first clip since nan Saudi Arabian GP successful April.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has besides made a precocious complaint to reignite his title defence, recovering from a 104-point shortage to Piastri aft Zandvoort to beforehand to being wrong 36 points of Norris.

Four meetings remain, including 2 sprint races pinch 1 this play successful Brazil, and pinch 116 points still available, Norris confirmed his purpose was to simply support winning.

“Nothing is completed, thing is done,” he said. “There are still much than 100 points disposable truthful it doesn’t mean anything. I request to triumph this weekend, adjacent play and each nan last races. That’s my goal.”

He had, however, been fixed a spur by his power astatine nan very beforehand of nan section successful Mexico. A salutary reminder that nan McLaren is still very overmuch astatine nan beforehand of nan section for each that Red Bull person made awesome strides complete caller races.

“When I person a play for illustration past weekend, I tin beryllium to myself that I tin dominate,” he said. “That is simply a bully thought because it is bully to beryllium to myself what I americium tin of and what I tin achieve. It was a mini accomplishment of a bigger puzzle. There is simply a overmuch bigger image successful mind.”

Verstappen, who had each but fixed up hopes of taking a 5th title this play astatine nan midway point, has been re-energised by nan improvements to his car that person allowed Red Bull to unlock its imaginable and supply a unchangeable and balanced level to nan Dutchman’s liking.

Max Verstappen land his adjacent move for Red Bull. Photograph: Sebastião Moreira/EPA

He has won 3 of nan 5 races since nan Dutch GP, an accomplishment he believed had been an bonzer turnaround.

“To still beryllium talking astir being successful this conflict is already singular successful nan first place,” he said. “It has to do pinch nan turnaround of nan team, they ne'er gave up and that is simply a spot of a team.

“Nevertheless, astatine 1 constituent erstwhile you are complete 100 points behind, and we are still talking astir being successful this fight, that is very impressive.” He remains nan outsider successful nan title pinch Norris and Piastri still enjoying a coagulated advantage, but this was a script Verstappen welcomed, arsenic he felt he had thing to lose.

“For me, location is nary pressure,” he added. “Even if I don’t triumph it, I still cognize that I drove a really bully play and I tin happily opportunity that to effort and replicate nan play that I person done, astir group connected nan grid would find that very tough.”