Norris 'not proud' of Sprint win: 'Piastri deserved it, but we did what we had to do'

Lando Norris can thank Oscar piastri. The Briton won the Sprint race in Brazil thanks to team orders and the goodwill of his teammate, who let him pass three laps from the finish before turn 4. Starting on the front row, the runner-up in the Drivers' Championship was unable to find an opening on the Australian, either at the start or on the following laps. Threatened by Charles Leclerc et Max Verstappen Behind him, the Englishman was starting to get annoyed at his radio, while McLaren wanted to make the position exchange in the last lap.

PIASTRI LET NORRIS WIN 🔄

A few moments before the VSC caused by the Haas de Hulkenberg, McLaren performs a position exchange between its two drivers 👀

Norris wins ahead of Piastri and Verstappen! 🇧🇷 #BrazilGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/J6uP390PyU

— CANAL+ F1® (@CanalplusF1) November 2, 2024

However, the yellow flag caused by Nico Hulkenberg's breakdown and stop in the second sector precipitated matters, with Oscar Piastri eventually relinquishing control of the race just before the Virtual Safety Car was deployed. Lando Norris then made good on the final lap to claim his first Sprint win of the year and take two points off Max Verstappen in the championship. The Briton admitted he was not too happy with the manner of the race, but he acknowledges he has no choice if he wants to give himself every chance of winning the title.

Lando Norris (McLaren), winner of the Sprint in Brazil :  “I’m not proud of it, but we worked well with the team and I thank Oscar [Piastri]. Today we got the result we wanted. Oscar would have deserved it, but we did what we had to do. I thank him and the team. We have a good pace, so I’m looking forward to qualifying and the race [on Sunday].”

“It was difficult [behind Piastri]. We were yo-yoing between us, I was catching him and then I was falling back. With the dirty air you lose a lot of time. I felt faster but I couldn’t pass. But I was good, we are faster than the others behind, it’s just difficult in these sprint races to manage and attack at the same time. But we executed it well.”

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