Lando Norris expressed deep gratitude towards his former mentor, Gil de Ferran, following his triumph at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Securing victory from pole position at Interlagos, the British driver has now solidified his position as the frontrunner in the Formula 1 championship race.
With a 24-point lead over his teammate Oscar Piastri in the standings and only three races remaining, Norris remains focused on the task at hand. However, his thoughts after the race were with the late De Ferran, a Brazilian former IndyCar racer who tragically passed away in December 2023 at the age of 56 due to a heart attack during a private motorsport event in Florida.
De Ferran had a significant impact at McLaren, serving as both sporting director and adviser over two stints. Norris, who entered F1 in 2019 under De Ferran’s guidance, dedicated his recent victory in Brazil to his cherished mentor, reflecting on the inspiration and guidance De Ferran provided.
While Norris celebrated his crucial win, attention also turned to Max Verstappen’s impressive performance. Starting from the pit lane after adjustments post-qualifying, Verstappen showcased remarkable skill to finish third, less than 11 seconds behind Norris. This outstanding result was further highlighted by rookie Kimi Antonelli’s impressive showing, finishing between the two seasoned drivers.
Despite his success, Norris acknowledged the need for improvement, particularly in response to Verstappen’s pace. With a keen eye on the competition, Norris emphasized the importance of analyzing their performance to stay competitive in the championship race.
In the broader context of the Grand Prix, Piastri secured fifth place, while British rookie Oliver Bearman continued to impress with a sixth-place finish for Haas, bringing the team closer to Aston Martin in the constructors’ championship battle.
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