Lando Norris seizes control of the championship as Max Verstappen dazzles from the pit lane

Lando Norris’s triumph at the São Paulo Grand Prix may have tightened his grip on the Formula 1 championship, but it was Max Verstappen who produced the most astonishing drive of the weekend.

The Briton’s victory at Interlagos – his seventh of the season – extended his lead over McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri to 24 points, putting him in a commanding position heading into the final three races. Verstappen, despite a heroic recovery from the pit lane to third, now trails Norris by 49 points.

Norris’s response to questions about the title was modest. “Not at all,” he said when asked if he was thinking about becoming champion. But behind the composure, it is clear he senses the title is within reach.

In Brazil, Norris was flawless. He secured pole position for both the sprint and the main race, dominated each from start to finish, and never put a wheel wrong. It was a complete performance from a driver who, just two months ago, looked out of contention.

The turnaround has been remarkable. At the Dutch Grand Prix in August, Piastri led the standings by 34 points after taking his seventh win of the year. Norris had just retired from the race and seemed mired in inconsistency.

Since then, the script has flipped entirely. Over seven grands prix, including two sprints, Norris has turned that deficit into a 58-point advantage. While Piastri’s form has collapsed, Norris has found a level of calm precision that marks him out as a champion in waiting.

Speaking after his victory, Norris admitted he was more focused on performance than points. “It’s a great win,” he said. “But to be honest, seeing how quick Max was today, I’m pretty disappointed we weren’t quicker. That’s where my mind is – just figuring out where we can improve.”

Norris’s maturity has grown alongside his pace. Reflecting on the pressures of expectation, he said, “I probably cared too much about how I was perceived at the start of the year. I’ve just learned to deal with that better. You have to be true to yourself, believe in yourself, and speak your mind.”

For Oscar Piastri, however, the weekend was another to forget. The Australians’ crash from third in the sprint race cost him dearly, and his collision with Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli in the grand prix earned him a ten-second penalty. While he recovered to finish fifth, the damage to his championship hopes was done.

“I’m at peace with the penalty,” Piastri said. “It kind of is what it is. The bigger issue is pace – it’s just not where I want it to be.”

Yet even with the title race seemingly tilting in Norris’s favour, Verstappen’s performance stole much of the attention. Starting from the pit lane after Red Bull made overnight setup changes, the Dutchman charged through the field despite suffering a puncture on lap six that sent him back to last place.

From there, he clawed his way up to third, at one stage even leading the race before a late pit stop. His sheer pace on the medium tyres left rivals stunned.

“Absolutely incredible,” Verstappen said afterwards. “The car felt so much better in the race. I gave it everything.”

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies called the drive “sensational”, while Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli described it as “one of the best I’ve ever seen.”

Although some suggested Verstappen could have risked staying out for the win, both Red Bull and McLaren agreed the tyre degradation made that impossible. “It would have been too much of a gamble,” McLaren boss Andrea Stella said.

With just three races left, Norris holds the advantage, but Verstappen’s brilliance in Brazil was a sharp reminder that the reigning champion’s fire is far from out. The championship may be slipping away, yet his relentless speed ensured that, even on a weekend when Lando Norris was perfect, Max Verstappen shone brightest of all.