Norris insists Vegas shambles will not derail title campaign

McLaren maintain they did not take excessive risks while Piastri talks up his own hopes

- Giles Richards

Lando Norris says his McLaren team have treated Max Verstappen 'as a threat the whole year'

(DAVID DAVIES/ PA IMAGES)

Lando Norris has insisted nothing has changed in terms of his focus on sealing his first Formula One world championship after both he and his McLaren teammate, Oscar Piastri, were disqualified from the Las Vegas Grand Prix, a result that catapulted Red Bull’s Max Verstappen back into contention for the title. McLaren’s team principal, Andrea Stella, has denied the team took “excessive risks” with their car in Las Vegas.

The race in Nevada last weekend was won by Verstappen but Norris took a strong second and Piastri fourth. However, four hours afterwards, following an investigation by the FIA, both were disqualified after the skid blocks on the floor of their cars were found to have been worn down below the 9mm limit defined in the rules.

Verstappen had been 49 points behind Norris going into the meeting but with Norris and Piastri stripped of their points he is now only 24 behind, the same deficit as Piastri, as the season enters its penultimate round in Qatar. Norris can still close out the title here but maintained he felt no extra pressure from Verstappen’s proximity in the title race.