Norris hopes for fairer fight with Verstappen in Brazil

SAO PAULO: Formula One title contender Lando Norris is optimistic about a cleaner battle with Max Verstappen in Brazil this weekend after intense on-track clashes with the Red Bull driver in Mexico. Norris, who trails the triple world champion by 47 points, arrives at Sao Paulo’s iconic Interlagos circuit fresh from a strong second-place finish in Mexico City. Meanwhile, Verstappen’s sixth-place finish was marred by two 10-second penalties for aggressive driving.

With Sao Paulo set to host a sprint weekend, offering valuable points on both Saturday and Sunday, Norris remains focused on fair racing. “Max knows what he has to do. He knows that he did wrong, deep down he does. And it’s for him to change, not for me,” Norris told reporters on Thursday, adding, “I expect a cleaner battle than we had, but it’s not up to me. I don’t make the rules and I don’t decide the penalties. I just drive.”

Despite being friends off the track, the two drivers have clashed during recent races, with Norris repeatedly forced wide as he attempted overtakes around the outside. For Norris, the focus now is on a more straightforward, competitive race weekend as he seeks to close the gap to the championship leader and keep his own title hopes alive.