Max is well in the race, warns Norris

FORMULA ONE

- By PHILIP DUNCAN

LANDO Norris believes Max Verstappen is now a "genuine" contender for the world championship but insisted McLaren will not have to make teammate Oscar Piastri their number one.

Back-to-back victories for Verstappen mean he heads into this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix 69 points behind Piastri, with 199 points still to play for over the remaining seven rounds.

Piastri crashed out of the last round in Azerbaijan while Norris started and finished seventh.

"He is genuinely a challenger," said Norris of the four-time world champion.