Overview
- With four rounds left, Norris heads Piastri 357–356 with Verstappen 36 points back, and a wet Interlagos sprint weekend offers up to 33 points to swing the fight.
- Helmut Marko says restructuring and a shift to heed Verstappen’s technical input, plus a new underbody specification, have made the RB21 more competitive.
- McLaren boss Andrea Stella says Piastri is learning to adapt his driving in low‑grip conditions and expects the experience to make him a more complete driver.
- Pundits highlight pressure on Piastri after a form dip since Baku, with Jacques Villeneuve calling him at his limit and Damon Hill suggesting overreach as the title nears.
- Analysts flag Brazil as a must‑gain weekend for Verstappen given his wet‑weather prowess, with Jolyon Palmer pointing to Las Vegas as a major opportunity to cut McLaren’s lead.