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Norris Leads Piastri by One Point as McLaren’s Driver Duel Heads to Brazil

McLaren voices confidence in Piastri, with debate over whether internal strain could aid Verstappen.

Overview

  • Lando Norris moved into a one‑point championship lead over Oscar Piastri after winning in Mexico, with Max Verstappen 36 points off the top.
  • Norris defended McLaren’s handling of its intra‑team fight and argued it has not harmed results, pointing to the team’s already‑secured constructors’ title.
  • Team principal Andrea Stella said Piastri’s Mexico weekend yielded useful learnings that the team views as an investment for the final four rounds.
  • McLaren has lifted earlier internal ‘repercussions’ on Norris and reset to a clean‑slate approach between its drivers heading into the run‑in.
  • Pundits split on the dynamics: Martin Brundle links Piastri’s dip to his bruising Baku weekend, Ralf Schumacher dismisses favoritism claims, Otmar Szafnauer expects a McLaren champion, and Mika Hakkinen calls the team’s endgame a difficult scenario.