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Lando Norris Sends a Strong Message in São Paulo Shootout
Lando Norris has made a bold statement during the shootout for the São Paulo GP sprint race, sending a clear warning to Max Verstappen. Although Norris finished second behind his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, his performance showcased a significant gap between him and the reigning world champion.
Thrilling Build-Up to the Sprint Race
Just two weeks after the previous sprint weekend in Austin—where Max Verstappen dominated by winning all three sessions this year—the teams were primed for another challenging round of the innovative format that includes mandatory tire compounds. The teams were .comy allotted an hour of practice on Friday, which they needed to prepare for the shootout, the sprint event, the qualifying session, and the main race on Sunday. In the first practice session, which Lando Norris concluded at the top, no team gave away their competitive edge, focusing instead on gathering data to perfect their car’s setup.
An Intense Opening Session
The first twelve-minute session kicked off with a flurry of activity on the track. Lando Norris quickly set the tone and demonstrated his serious intent. The British contender was nearly a second faster than his teammate Oscar Piastri, showcasing his capability under pressure. Sergio Pérez, who had a challenging race in Mexico just a week prior, finished ahead of Verstappen, who occupied the sixth position. Notably, Alex Albon surprised everyone by qualifying third for the next round. Early exits from the competition included drivers such as Fernando Alonso, Esteban Ocon, Yuki Tsunoda, Lance Stroll, and Guanyu Zhou.
Norris Continues to Dominate in Qualifying
Norris’s impressive performance was no fluke. He once again shined in SQ2, demonstrating his superiority over Verstappen. The championship leader, who holds a 47-point advantage over Norris with four races left—including two sprint events—couldn’t match Norris’s time. Verstappen was left trailing by nearly half a second, while Piastri lagged by almost two-tenths. This consistency indicated that the Autódromo José Carlos Pace favored the McLaren MCL38. Disappointingly for fans, Lewis Hamilton (11th) and Sergio Pérez (13th) were among the unexpected eliminations in the second segment, with Pérez struggling once again with an older chassis in São Paulo. Nico Hülkenberg, Franco Colapinto, and Valtteri Bottas also found themselves exiting early.
Looking Ahead to the Sprint Race
In the final session, Norris confirmed that he was driven to close the gap on Verstappen during the race in São Paulo. He continued to display speed, even on the softest tire compound, signaling that he was hungry for victory. However, it was Oscar Piastri who would start from pole position. The Australian pulled off a flawless lap in the closing moments, impressively temporarily overshadowing his teammate. Charles Leclerc finished in third place. The main question heading into the sprint race tomorrow is whether Piastri will prioritize Norris’s chances if the opportunity arises.
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