SAO PAULO – McLaren driver Lando Norris won Saturday's Formula 1 dash race at the Brazilian Grand Prix to reduce his deficit to championship leader Max Verstappen.
Crimson Bull's Verstappen is also under investigation for a possible digital safety car violation.
The difference between the two drivers, with four grands prix and one last dash race until the end of the season, is now 45 points.
Norris started second on the grid and, at the end of the 24 laps of the dash race, his teammate Oscar Piastri gave way to him.
Verstappen finished third and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who also has a good chance of winning the title, finished fourth.
Ferrari's Carlos Sainz Jr. was fifth, followed by Mercedes' George Russell, Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Crimson Bull's Sergio Perez.
Norris appeared to be bothered by leader Piastri's pace for most of the sprint race. “I'm not sure what I'm doing here, man,” he said on team radiodifusión. “I thought we talked about this.”
Norris later said that McLaren had done a good job.
“I'm not proud of it, but we worked well as a team, so I thank Oscar,” Norris said. “The Oscar deserved (a win) but we did what we had to do.”
Piastri did not elaborate on McLaren's decision. “A great day for the team and many points. “We learned a lot for tomorrow’s race,” he said.
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