Lando Norris delivered a commanding performance in Brazil, turning a strong weekend into a major championship boost.

After dominating qualifying and topping the sprint race, the McLaren driver carried his momentum into the Grand Prix, taking maximum points and asserting himself as a clear frontrunner in the title race.

The result leaves Norris with a healthy advantage as the season enters its final three rounds. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen, despite an impressive recovery from the back of the grid to the podium, still trails significantly in the championship standings, facing an uphill battle to close the gap.

The four-time world champion, having been knocked out in Q1 with the sixteenth fastest time, opted for a new power unit and a different setup in an attempt to climb back up the field.

Starting from the pit lane, the Dutchman mounted a phenomenal recovery, fighting his way onto the podium and coming close to snatching second place from Kimi Antonelli.

The Dutchman also suffered a puncture early in the race, which, paradoxically, allowed him to get his mandatory stop out of the way and switch to soft tyres for the final stint, giving him an even better chance to chase down the two Mercedes.

Verstappen lost another 15 points to Norris but managed to limit the damage in the championship, although with a 49-point deficit, a fifth world title now looks extremely challenging.