Cool Norris edges closer to first world title

Lando Norris extended his lead in the drivers’ world championship to 24 points ahead of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri with a well-judged victory in Sunday's dramatic Sao Paulo Grand Prix — but Red Bull’s Max Verstappen stole the show by racing from a pit-lane start to finish third.

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McLaren's Lando Norris celebrates with the trophy after winning the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

(REUTERS)

In a tense and incident-filled contest, Norris won by 10.388 seconds ahead of Mercedes’ teenage Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli with the four-time champion Verstappen just 0.362 seconds behind after a charging drive, including a puncture, to a podium finish.

George Russell came fourth in the second Mercedes ahead of the luckless Piastri and three remarkable rookies in Haas's Oliver Bearman and the Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar. Nico Hulkenberg was ninth for Sauber and Pierre Gasly 10th for Alpine.

It was Norris's seventh win of the season and the 11th of his career, moving him within sight of a first world title with a comfortable advantage ahead of Piastri, who fought hard and collected a 10-second penalty, with three rounds remaining.

“Twas pushing and itwas an amazing race,” said Norris, who dedicated his win to the late Gil de Feran, a former driver who nurtured his early career.