SAO PAULO — Lando Norris, driving for McLaren, took victory in the Formula 1 sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Saturday, narrowing his point gap to championship frontrunner Max Verstappen.

Verstappen, who drives for Red Bull, finds himself under scrutiny for a potential breach of regulations regarding the virtual safety car.

As the championship season progresses, with only four Grand Prix events and one sprint remaining, Norris has reduced the point difference to 45 points.

Norris started the sprint race from the second position on the grid, and later in the 24-lap race, he received support from teammate Oscar Piastri, who allowed him to pass.

Verstappen finished in third place, while Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who remains a long shot in the title race, secured fourth.

Carlos Sainz Jr. from Ferrari took fifth, followed closely by Mercedes’ George Russell, Alpine’s Pierre Gasly, and Red Bull’s Sergio Perez.

During the race, Norris expressed his frustration over Piastri’s pace, stating on the team radio, “I am not sure what I am doing here, mate. I thought we spoke about this.”

Following the race, Norris acknowledged the team’s performance. “I am not proud of it, but we worked well together, so I thank Oscar,” he remarked, adding that Piastri deserved the win but they did what was necessary for the team.

In response, Piastri did not go into detail about the McLaren strategy but highlighted the day’s success. “A great day for the team, and we earned plenty of points. We learned a lot for the race tomorrow,” he mentioned.