Title battle still three-way fight

LANDO Norris has been told by Oscar Piastri that he will not help his McLaren teammate fend off Red Bull’s Max Verstappen to win the world championship.

- PHILIP DUNCAN

Norris heads both Verstappen and Piastri by 24 points with 58 to play for across the final two rounds, starting at this weekend's Qatar Grand Prix.

Verstappen had been 104 points off the championship pace, but his win in Las Vegas last Saturday - his fourth in the eight races since the summer break - coupled with Norris’ disqualification for running an illegal car, puts the four-time world champion firmly in the hunt as the season reaches its climax.

Piastri, who was also thrown out of the Sin City race, remains in contention, but he is struggling for form and has not finished ahead of Norris since the Dutch Grand Prix in August.