Lando Norris expressed heartfelt appreciation for his late mentor Gil de Ferran following his triumph at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Securing victory from pole position at Interlagos, Norris solidified his lead in the Formula 1 championship standings, now 24 points ahead of his teammate, Oscar Piastri, with three races to go.
The win was not just about the championship for Norris, as his thoughts were with De Ferran, a former IndyCar racer who tragically passed away in December 2023 due to a heart attack during a private motorsport event in Florida. De Ferran had a significant impact on Norris during his time as a mentor while serving at McLaren.
Reflecting on his win in Brazil, Norris dedicated the victory to De Ferran, remarking on the pride his mentor would have felt. Despite the importance of the win for his title aspirations, Norris acknowledged the impressive performance of Max Verstappen, who made a remarkable recovery from starting in the pit lane to finish third.
While pleased with his victory, Norris noted the speed Verstappen displayed, prompting him to focus on understanding why his team’s pace was not as competitive. Looking ahead, Norris emphasized the need to stay focused, push forward, and address the performance gap.
Piastri finished fifth in the race, earning 10 points, while young British driver Oliver Bearman continued to impress with a sixth-place finish for Haas, closing in on Aston Martin in the constructors’ championship battle.
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