Lando Norris won the 2024 Brazilian Formula 1 sprint race after swapping positions with teammate Oscar PIastri late at Interlagos, but Max Verstappen almost spoiled McLaren’s 1-2 finish.

When the lights went out, Piastri led from pole and immediately went to the inside of the esses to defend against teammate Norris.

Behind, Verstappen tried to drive down the inside of Leclerc, but got stuck exiting Turn 1.

A long chase for third place would then follow, but the sprint was dominated by a charged battle for the lead between the two papaya cars.

Norris would ultimately win that battle thanks to team orders, while Piastri, although seemingly challenging for much of the race, settled for second place after swapping positions on the straight to Turn 4 on lap 22 of 24.

Verstappen had taken third place from Leclerc on lap 18 and when McLaren switched positions, the Dutchman put pressure on Piastri for second.

The virtual safety car was then deployed, giving Piastri a brief reprieve, but he resumed for a one-lap race to the finish.

Piastri was just under a second behind and assured McLaren of 15 points on Saturday.

After the race it emerged that Verstappen was known for a possible VSC violation, as he may have exceeded the pace delta in that late pursuit of Piastri.

How the tense McLaren battle unfolded

Piastri’s first-lap dive in defense of Norris’ lead was perhaps a sign of things to come.

By the end of the first lap the McLarens were out of DRS range, with Leclerc and then Verstappen giving chase.

“Yes, I’m close,” Norris soon said over the radio. He wanted Piastri to change places.

“I thought we talked about this,” was Norris’s next plea over the radio as he struggled in the foul air of Piastri and out of his DRS range.

On lap seven, Norris was in Leclerc’s DRS clutch, while Verstappen also had DRS in pursuit – and this is where the championship contender was most vulnerable.

“Give Lando DRS” was McLaren’s next order: not an explicit demand to change places, but a ploy to give Norris some extra speed with Leclerc and Verstappen in pursuit.

“With the gap to Leclerc, if we can, we are happy to hold these positions until the last lap,” was the next message from Norris’ race engineer Will Joseph over the pit wall.

“Yes, I will overtake,” a defiant Norris replied shortly afterwards.

That pressure cooker of a situation was resolved on lap 22, with two laps to go, when Piastri slowed on the straight to Turn 4, letting Norris pass.

However, this put Piastri right in the clutches of Verstappen.

McLaren’s blushes were saved, however, when the VSC was deployed for the stationary Haas of Nico Hulkenberg, which had stalled at the Esses with a suspected exhaust problem.

The VSC was withdrawn with less than one lap to go and it looked like Verstappen had the upper hand over Piastri, but he kept the Dutchman at bay to secure the one-two.

Verstappen was then at the mercy of the stewards.

Ferrari and Mercedes out of the fight

Leclerc was almost defenseless against Verstappen, but more worrying was the relative lack of pace for Ferrari, with Carlos Sainz fifth out of the lead battle.

Mercedes also struggled with George Russell a further five seconds over Sainz in sixth. His teammate Lewis Hamilton lost three places at the start and finished in eleventh place, behind Alex Albon.

Pierre Gasly was quick for Alpine in seventh and Sergio Perez beat recent rival Liam Lawson for the final point in eighth.

The Mexican driver made a late lunge at Lawson on lap 15, but he locked up and Lawson retook eighth place. However, Perez recovered to secure the final point for Red Bull, leaving Lawson ninth.

Haas looked to be in the race for points before Perez’s recovery, but Ollie Bearman lost places at the end of the race to finish 14th behind Esteban Ocon and Franco Colapinto.

Aston Martin also had a tough race, with both cars starting in the pit lane (for parc ferme changes). Fernando Alonso finished 18th, behind fellow pit lane starter Zhou Guanyu of Sauber, while Lance Stroll was last to reach the checkered flag in 19th.