Brazil GP 2024: Lando Norris Wins First Ever Sprint After Oscar Piastri Plays Ultimate Team Game

Brazil GP 2024: Lando Norris has won the F1 Sprint race in Interlagos, Brazil after teammate Oscar Piastri played the ultimate team game and allowed Norris to overtake for the victory towards the end of the race.

Max Verstappen came third in the Sprint and was very close to snatching P2 away from Oscar Piastri. 

McLaren's team order headache

McLaren faced yet another headache regarding team orders, given Oscar Piastri started on pole while, Championship challenger, Lando Norris started in P2. Lando Norris got the better start of the two and was in the lead of the sprint before Oscar Piastri came firing back and took the lead back. 

This caused trouble in the McLaren pitlane as Lando Norris went on team radio demanding that Oscar Piastri give the place back to him. But Oscar Piastri was adamant not to give the place back till the end which frustrated Lando. 

Meanwhile, Championship leader, Max Verstappen flew from 4th place on the grid and was chasing Charles Lecler but was unable to pull off the move. Lando Norris opened up a 1.5 second gap from Charles Leclerc which allowed McLaren to wait for the team swap until the final lap of the race. 

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Things got interesting when Max Verstappen overtook Charles Leclerc in the 18th lap of the race and chased after Lando Norris to trouble McLaren. Verstappen got the go ahead on the team radio, as Red Bull set after chasing Lando Norris. 

Nico Hulkenberg's Haas broke down in the 21st lap of the race, and McLaren were quick to realise what was coming as the two drivers swapped position in 21st lap. A virtual safety car was deployed a lap later and McLaren's quick thinking helped Lando secure the win and take two points off Max Verstapen in the lead of the championship. 

McLaren bagged home 15 crucial points in the constructors Championship to take their tally to 581 points. Lando Norris on the other hand has cut Verstappen's lead to 45 points ahead of qualifying on Saturday. 

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Here is the final classification of sprint race