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Lando Norris's triumph in the Sao Paulo Grand Prix sprint race has narrowed Max Verstappen's lead in the Formula One drivers' championship to 45 points. The McLaren driver's victory, ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri, marks his first career sprint race win.Norris took the lead on lap 22 after Piastri swapped positions with him. The Briton then held off a challenge from Verstappen, who will start Sunday's Grand Prix with a five-place grid penalty for an infringement of the Virtual Safety Car (VSC) rules.Piastri, who finished second, praised the team's performance. "It was a great day for the team to score a lot of points," said the Australian. "We showed we are in decent shape."Verstappen, who had won the previous four sprint races this year, admitted that it was a "tricky race." "The pace was good, but it took quite a long time for me to pass Charles (Leclerc)," he said. "I had to wait for a mistake to pass him."McLaren's one-two finish lifted them 35 points clear of Ferrari in the constructors' championship. George Russell came home sixth for Mercedes, ahead of Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull.The race began in hot conditions, with the air temperature at 28 degrees Celsius and the track at 47 degrees. The two McLarens made a clean start, with Piastri covering off Norris while Leclerc resisted Verstappen's early attack for third.Norris was unhappy to be running behind Piastri and asked his team to request his teammate to move aside. However, it was not until lap 10 that Piastri was asked to "give Lando DRS" and switch places.Norris remained stuck in second in Piastri's "dirty air" until lap 22, when McLaren finally made the swap. Piastri was then vulnerable to Verstappen, who closed in on him before a VSC was deployed with two laps to go.Verstappen complained that Piastri was running too slowly under the VSC, but the race went "green" again for a final flying lap. Norris held on to win by 0.593 seconds, with Piastri 1.5 seconds ahead of Verstappen.

Oscar Piastri, the McLaren driver, secured pole position for the sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Friday. Despite his desire to win, Piastri acknowledged that his teammate Lando Norris has a greater need for points in the drivers' standings.The McLaren duo, aided by an updated rear wing, dominated the front row of the grid, raising the possibility of team orders to assist Norris's title bid. Piastri expressed his willingness to relinquish a victory if necessary, recognizing Norris's higher priority in the championship race.However, Piastri emphasized his determination to win the sprint race, stating that anything could happen. He acknowledged that McLaren's performance boost from the new rear wing had given them an advantage.The newly resurfaced track at Interlagos proved to be challenging for the drivers due to its bumpy surface. Piastri described it as "hard enough to see where you're going, let alone try to do a fast lap."Norris expressed surprise at the speed of his car, admitting that he had made mistakes on his final lap. He declined to discuss his prospects of closing in on Max Verstappen in the title race, stating that he was focused on his own performance.Verstappen, who will face a five-place grid penalty in Sunday's Grand Prix for taking a new engine, qualified fourth behind the McLaren duo and Ferrari's Charles Leclerc. He attributed his performance to the car's difficulty on the bumpy track.Alex Albon finished ninth for Williams, while Oliver Bearman impressed in place of Kevin Magnussen for Haas.

McLaren's Oscar Piastri emerged victorious in a thrilling Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Sunday, holding off pole-sitter Charles Leclerc's Ferrari to secure his second career win. The Australian driver's triumph marked a significant moment for McLaren, as they overtook Red Bull in the constructor's championship title race.Piastri's victory was hard-fought, as he engaged in a fierce battle with Leclerc throughout the race. After Leclerc held the lead for the first 20 laps, Piastri seized the opportunity to overtake him and maintain his position until the checkered flag.Behind the top two, Mercedes' George Russell secured a podium finish in third place, while Piastri's teammate Lando Norris finished fourth. Norris's performance was particularly impressive, as he earned an extra point for setting the fastest lap of the race.The race was not without its drama, as a late collision between Carlos Sainz (Ferrari) and Sergio Perez (Red Bull) forced the race to end under a virtual safety car. The incident prevented any further changes in the standings, leaving Piastri as the victor.Piastri's win has significantly impacted the championship standings. Red Bull's Max Verstappen, who has not won in seven races, still leads the drivers' standings with 313 points. However, Norris's strong performance has reduced Verstappen's lead to 59 points with seven races and three sprints remaining.In the constructor's championship, McLaren's victory has propelled them ahead of Red Bull. McLaren now holds 394 points, while Red Bull has 389 points. The battle for the title is expected to remain intense in the upcoming races.

Ferrari's Charles Leclerc has once again proven his dominance at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, securing pole position for the fourth consecutive year. The Monegasque driver, fresh off his victory at Monza, will be joined on the front row by McLaren's rising star, Oscar Piastri.However, reigning world champion Max Verstappen's recent struggles continued as the Red Bull driver could only manage sixth place on the grid. Verstappen, who has not won a race in six attempts, will be eager to break his losing streak in Baku.Lando Norris, Verstappen's closest rival in the championship standings, suffered a major setback by being eliminated in the first qualifying session. The McLaren driver will start from a lowly 17th position, making his task of closing the 62-point gap to Verstappen an even more daunting one.Leclerc's Ferrari teammate, Carlos Sainz, will start alongside Sergio Perez in the second Red Bull on the second row. George Russell, in the Mercedes, will occupy the third row alongside Verstappen.Norris acknowledged the challenges he faces from the back of the grid, especially on the narrow streets of Baku, where overtaking is notoriously difficult. "I'm not expecting a lot from 17th, but we will put in a good plan tonight and do our best," said the Briton.With Leclerc in pole position and Verstappen starting further down the grid, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix promises to be an intriguing battle for supremacy. The narrow and unpredictable nature of the Baku City Circuit could lead to unexpected twists and turns, making it a race that is sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats.

McLaren's Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri faced a disappointing Friday at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, with Norris struggling to 17th place and Piastri finishing fifth in second free practice. The team found themselves well off the pace set by Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who topped the timesheets ahead of Red Bull's Sergio Perez.Norris admitted that McLaren had a lot of work to do overnight to find a solution to their performance deficit. "We're quite a long way off," he said. "I'm having to push way too much to try and get a lap time."Norris acknowledged that Piastri's performance was more representative of McLaren's true pace, but he remained optimistic that the team could improve. "I think if we nail it, we're just about there," he said. "But I'm sure they're not even close to nailing it yet."Norris dismissed an incident with Alpine's Pierre Gasly as a factor in his poor showing. "It's just that here, you don't deploy the power until very late so he's clearly misjudged it," he said. "It didn't matter. I'd done my lap already."McLaren had announced their intention to introduce team orders to support Norris's title bid, but the driver emphasized that he did not want to rely on others. "I don't want to be in a position where I'm relying on someone else to do something for me," he said.Assessing the team's pace, Norris identified Mercedes, Ferrari, and Red Bull as the frontrunners. "There's a good three or four-tenths gap back to us," he said. "So, we have a lot of work to do."Piastri, who had a more positive day, said that it was difficult to gauge McLaren's true pace due to the evolving track conditions. "Ferrari look strong and Red Bull are quick," he said. "But our long runs look competitive."

Oscar Piastri has clarified that he will not automatically defer to his McLaren teammate Lando Norris in every remaining race of the 2023 Formula 1 season, despite the team's decision to implement team orders in support of Norris's title bid.Speaking to reporters ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Piastri acknowledged the principle of assisting Norris to bolster both his and the team's standings. However, he emphasized that he would retain the freedom to compete against Norris in certain races and circumstances."It's not going to be a case of me pulling over for Lando at every single race," Piastri stated. "That's not how any of us, including Lando, want to go racing."Piastri explained that the team would need to carefully consider each scenario and reward the driver who had performed better on a given weekend. He stressed that the team's goal was not to simply prioritize Norris in every decision but to maintain a balance that would benefit both drivers and the team as a whole."We're not leading the constructors' championship, so we need to make sure we win that," Piastri said. "It's important we maintain that kind of trust."McLaren team principal Andrea Stella had previously announced that the team would employ team orders in specific situations to support Norris's pursuit of the drivers' championship. Norris currently trails reigning champion Max Verstappen by 62 points.Piastri acknowledged that team orders could be challenging for drivers, but he recognized the broader context and the team's objectives."I race for a team that's given me my opportunity in F1 and a team that has given me the opportunity to win races within 18 months of being here," Piastri said. "I have a lot of gratitude for that. The bigger picture is about more than just me."Piastri emphasized the team's goal of winning both the drivers' and constructors' championships, acknowledging that such an achievement would be a significant milestone for McLaren.

Max Verstappen, despite facing a 10-place grid penalty for Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix, dominated the opening free practice session on Friday. The Red Bull driver set the fastest lap time, outpacing McLaren's Oscar Piastri by over half a second.Verstappen, who had a heated outburst on team radio during the Hungarian Grand Prix, showcased his pace on the track. He clocked a best lap of 1:43.372, remaining unchallenged throughout the session. The Dutchman is aiming to end his three-race winless streak and secure his fourth consecutive Belgian triumph.Williams' Alex Albon impressed with the third-fastest time, ahead of Mercedes' George Russell and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, Sergio Perez of Red Bull, and Lando Norris in the second McLaren rounded out the top eight.Carlos Sainz finished ninth for Ferrari, while Lance Stroll took 10th for Aston Martin. The session was held in warm but cloudy conditions, with Russell being the first driver to take to the track. Verstappen quickly established his dominance, setting the early pace on hard tires.Piastri, who claimed his maiden Formula One victory in Hungary, initially used soft tires but later switched to hards. Esteban Ocon, who recently announced his move to Haas next year, faced a setback as his Alpine team worked on a suspected water leak.Verstappen's 10-place grid penalty was confirmed during the session, along with a similar penalty for Red Bull's Yuki Tsunoda. Both drivers will start from the back of the grid due to engine component changes.Perez joined Verstappen on track midway through the session and complained of car responsiveness issues. Hamilton also reported problems with bouncing and a lack of rear end grip. Despite these concerns, Mercedes showed inconsistent pace in conditions that typically favor their cars.

Oscar Piastri's maiden Formula One victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix was a culmination of a thrilling and controversial race. The McLaren driver emerged victorious ahead of teammate Lando Norris, marking the team's first one-two finish since 2012.The race was marred by numerous incidents and radio exchanges that added to the drama. Piastri's victory was secured after a late collision with Max Verstappen, who recovered to finish fifth. Seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton claimed his 200th podium finish with a third-place result.Piastri's triumph was not without its challenges. He survived a tense start, where he emerged in the lead after a three-way battle with Norris and Verstappen. The Dutchman's aggressive driving prompted a heated exchange with his race engineer, who ordered him to allow Norris to pass.As the race progressed, Piastri maintained his lead, while Norris struggled to keep pace. Verstappen, on fresher tires, closed in on Hamilton but was unable to overtake him. Norris eventually pitted for mediums, rejoining ahead of Hamilton but behind Piastri.With just five laps remaining, McLaren issued an ultimatum to Norris, reminding him of his team responsibilities. Norris, who had been reluctant to let Piastri pass, finally relented, handing the Australian the lead.Piastri's victory was a testament to his skill and determination. The 23-year-old Australian has quickly established himself as a rising star in Formula One, and his maiden win is a significant milestone in his career.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri secured a historic front-row lockout for McLaren at the Hungarian Grand Prix, marking the team's first such feat since 2012. Norris claimed pole position with a blistering lap of 1:15.227, edging out his teammate by a mere 0.022 seconds.Max Verstappen, the reigning world champion, had to settle for third place, despite a valiant effort in the tense wet-dry qualifying session. The Dutchman was just three-hundredths of a second behind Norris, while Ferrari's Carlos Sainz and Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top five.Charles Leclerc, in the second Ferrari, qualified sixth, ahead of Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll of Aston Martin. Daniel Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda, both driving for Red Bull, secured ninth and tenth positions, respectively.Norris's pole position was his second in four races and the third of his career. The 24-year-old Briton is eager to challenge Verstappen for the championship title and believes this pole position is a step in the right direction."I'm very happy with that," said Norris. "It wasn't easy at all in difficult conditions, so ending up on top is the best for us all and a great result for the team."Piastri, who is making his Formula 1 debut this season, was thrilled with his second-place finish. "It's the first 1-2 for McLaren for a long time and an amazing result for us," he said.Verstappen acknowledged the challenge he faced in qualifying. "I tried," he said. "We have been behind the whole weekend and I tried to make it as close as possible, but it wasn't enough."The qualifying session began in cooler weather with light rain falling. McLaren's Norris and Piastri were among the first to take to the track on soft slick tires. Sergio Perez of Red Bull suffered a setback when he crashed into the wall at Turn Eight, resulting in a red-flag stoppage.After a brief delay, the action resumed with Perez hanging on in ninth position. However, he ultimately failed to advance to Q2, marking his fourth Q1 exit in six outings. George Russell of Mercedes also struggled in Q1, finishing 17th and out.In Q2, Sainz initially set the pace, but Hamilton and Verstappen soon took over. Norris eventually claimed the top spot with a lap time of 1:15.540. Hamilton struggled to survive in 10th, while Nico Hulkenberg of Haas, Valtteri Bottas of Sauber, Alex Albon of Williams, Logan Sargeant, and Kevin Magnussen missed the cut to the top-ten shootout.In the final Q3 session, Norris and Verstappen battled for pole position. Norris ultimately prevailed with a lap time of 1:15.227, despite rain beginning to fall. Tsunoda crashed at Turn Five, prompting a red-flag stoppage. The session resumed with limited time remaining, but only Ricciardo improved his time to take ninth from his teammate.