Max back in the title mix says Norris

LANDO NORRIS insists McLaren won't have to favour Oscar Piastri's title charge despite admitting the genuine threat they face from Max Verstappen.

- BY DANIEL MOXON

Piastri leads the championship by 25 points from Norris with seven rounds left in a season dominated by McLaren.

But back-to-back wins for Verstappen in his upgraded Red Bull in Monza and Baku have handed the Dutchman a lifeline in his quest for five titles in a row.

The odds remain long on an unlikely comeback with Verstappen, inset, still 69 points behind Piastri, but Norris refuses to count out the four-time champion.

The Brit said: “He is genuinely a challenger. I expect him to be quick for many of the races this season. In Baku, we had the pace to win and we had the car to win, and we didn't. I don't think we necessarily had the pace to be on pole, but we had the chance to fight Max.