Oscar Piastri let title-chasing Lando Norris through to win the sprint and give his McLaren teammate an extra point in his championship chase against Max Verstappen at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

With Verstappen finishing third – but under investigation for an alleged Virtual Safety Car breach on the final lap behind Piastri – after overtaking Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc late on, Norris has cut his Red Bull rival’s lead in the Drivers’ Championship to 45 points ahead of Sunday’s main race. race – for which the Dutchman receives a grid penalty of five places due to an engine change.

After suggesting after sprint pole qualifying that he would be willing to hand Saturday’s win to Norris, Piastri led the first 21 laps of the race before letting Norris through along the Interlagos straight in a choreographed, supervised position change of McLaren’s pit wall.

Verstappen ended up right on Piastri’s tail after a race-long pursuit of Leclerc finally overtook the Red Bull driver a few laps earlier.

But Verstappen is facing a stewards investigation ahead of main qualifying at 6pm for an alleged VSC breach, believed to be linked to him riding right on Piastri’s tail as the controlled speed period entered the middle of the final lap ended and he almost caught up on the last lap. McLaren.

Drivers must adhere to a controlled time under the VSC, which was called after Nico Hulkenberg’s Haas stopped at the side of the track.

With Leclerc having to settle for fourth after Ferrari’s race pace in recent races did not work out as expected, Carlos Sainz was fifth in the sister car and George Russell sixth in the leading Mercedes.

More to follow…

Sky Sports F1’s live Sao Paulo GP schedule

Saturday November 2
5:00 PM: Sao Paulo Qualification Build-up
6 p.m.: Sao Paulo GP qualifying
8:00 PM: Ted’s Qualification Notebook

Sunday November 3
3.30 pm: Grand Prix Sunday: build-up of the Sao Paulo GP
5:00 PM: THE GRAND PRIZE OF SAO PAULO
7 p.m.: Checkered flag: GP response from Sao Paulo
8 p.m.: Ted’s notebook

Formula 1’s triple header in America concludes this weekend with the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, with each session broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Stream every F1 race and more with a NOW Sports Month membership – No contract, cancel anytime