Lando Norris Stands as Clear Favorite for F1 Title Following Sao Paulo Success
As the Formula One season approaches its climax, Lando Norris has emerged as the clear frontrunner for the championship title, a position solidified by his impressive performances in Sao Paulo. The McLaren driver now finds himself 24 points ahead of his teammate, Oscar Piastri, following a series of races that have seen Piastri’s title challenge falter dramatically.
Norris’s lead comes at a pivotal time, with only three races left in the season—Las Vegas, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi—along with one additional Saturday sprint. Remarkably, Norris doesn’t even need to secure another victory to claim the championship; he simply must remain consistent, as even a second-place finish in every race would suffice for him to be crowned champion if Piastri achieves maximum points.
Despite McLaren achieving seven one-two finishes this season, the team’s dominance has waned. The last one-two finish occurred in Hungary back in August, and Piastri has been off the podium for his last five races. This inconsistency has dramatically shifted the dynamics in the title fight; after being 34 points ahead of Norris following the Zandvoort race, Piastri now faces a daunting challenge as his rival continues to gather momentum.
While reigning world champion Max Verstappen, along with Mercedes drivers Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton, can still influence the title race, Norris appears largely unfazed. He acknowledges the pressure on Piastri, who is running out of time to close the gap but remains hopeful that an unexpected twist—such as a poor outing for Norris—could reignite his chances.
Norris himself, though aware of his advantageous position, remains cautious. “It’s still a long way to go. No point getting too happy or excited just yet,” he said after his double victory in Brazil. With the next race in Las Vegas, Norris has tempered expectations, citing last year’s struggle at the circuit and acknowledging the strengths of their competitors.
“I think it was our worst race last year. We know Mercedes, Red Bull, and Ferrari were incredibly strong there. Of course, we’ve improved this year, so there’s plenty to look forward to,” he added.
