Lando Norris deals Max Verstappen blow in Brazilian GP sprint as Piastri plays team game | F1 | Sport

Lando Norris inherited the Brazilian Grand Prix sprint race victory after Oscar Piastri moved aside with three laps to go. The Brit therefore gained two points on championship rival Max Verstappen, who finished in third.

All of the talk heading into the sprint race surrounded team orders, but Piastri defended hard after getting a strong launch off the line. The polesitter got to Turn One in front, leading team-mate Norris out of the Curva do Sol.

Behind the McLaren duo, there was a challenge for P3 as Verstappen put Charles Leclerc under pressure, but the Monegasque racer held off the threat of the three-time world champion by staying within DRS range of second-placed Norris.

On the radio, Norris was far from happy and he complained to race engineer Will Joseph. He was even less impressed when Piastri broke out of DRS range, leaving him vulnerable to Leclerc and Verstappen behind.

With Norris tantalisingly close, Leclerc made a mistake into Turn One on lap 13, giving Verstappen the encouragement he needed to launch an attack. “Ah come on Charles, man,” the Red Bull man joked on the radio. “So many mistakes!”

Verstappen did eventually make his way past Leclerc and set off after Piastri. The 23-year-old orchestrated a position swap on lap 22 into Descida do Lago, setting Norris free to take the victory.

A late virtual safety car caused by Nico Hulkenberg gave the Dutchman a chance to attack late on, but the McLaren duo held strong to take home a one-two finish.