In a dispute that is difficult to watch because not even the protagonist himself gives the impression of believing it, Lando Norris cuts two more points from Max Verstappen in the fight for the Formula 1 world championship. He wins the sprint race in Brazil, amortizes two more points on his Dutch rival and leaves the difference at 45 points in the absence of the Grand Prix in Sao Paulo this Sunday and three more races.
It is difficult to assume Norris with the face of a champion while Verstappen bites from behind and defends himself like a shark in the trickle of points that is being left since McLaren has a better car than Red Bull. Verstappen is a beast without control and Norris seems to be overwhelmed by the task ahead of him.
On Saturday at Interlagos, McLaren does not make a mistake in its strategy. The papaya cars accelerate their superiority, execute an academic exit in doublet mode, Piastri-Norris, and they keep their adversary, fourth Verstappen, at bay for 18 laps behind Leclerc.
When the Red Bull leader snacks on Ferrari’s Monegasque, McLaren remains calm, changes the pace, takes advantage of the short Sao Paulo circuit to connect with Norris to DRS (one second away from Piastri) and at the right moment, they force the change of positions.
With two laps to go, and with the race idling due to the virtual safety car due to Hulkenberg’s engine failure, Norris leads and Verstappen cannot get close to Piastri.
These are two points earned with the sweat of the brow, 24 laps of the Brazilian track that are equivalent to two points. A titanic and laborious task in which McLaren does its job, while Verstappen pursues without making mistakes.
Carlos Sainz finishes fifth, blurred by the fight in his head and without space to appear on TV. And much less Fernando Alonso, eighteenth and invisible in a fight with his teammate Stroll and the Sauber to not be the last classified in the sprint. “There is no positive to be rescued, it will be like this until the end of the year,” Alonso resigns.
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