F1 Brazil GP LIVE: Qualifying delayed due to rain after Max Verstappen receives sprint penalty
F1 live updates as qualifying is delayed due to horrendous weather in Sao Paulo
Lando Norris took another two points out of Max Verstappen’s championship lead after he won Saturday’s sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Pole-sitter Oscar Piastri obeyed a team order from McLaren to move aside for Norris on lap 22 of 24 at Interlagos, with Verstappen finishing third.
Norris’ victory takes him 45 points behind Verstappen with 132 points still available.
Norris enjoyed a strong getaway, with Piastri moving to his left to keep his McLaren team-mate behind. Verstappen started from fourth and locked up under braking for the opening corner but he managed to get his Red Bull to stop in time.
Follow all the latest updates from the Brazilian Grand Prix with The Independent
Christian Horner provides update on Sergio Perez future
“We’re doing our best to rebuild his confidence,” Horner says when pushed on Perez’s future.
“He had a horrible weekend in Mexico, it’s an older chassis, to give him that boost of confidence he’s a seasoned campaigner, he knows it’s a results-based business.
“This season has been under par, nobody is more acutely aware of this than Sergio, we’re trying our best to support him.”
Lando Norris after winning the Brazil GP sprint:
“You can never plan exactly what lap or time. The main thing we want to do is not put anyone at risk, myself or Oscar. We executed exactly how we wanted to.
“I was under pressure, they were within DRS. Max was a lot quicker at the end of the race. That’s life. Oscar deserved the win, I’m not proud of winning any race like this. I thank Oscar and the team.
“I felt very quick the whole race. I was the one who benefited at the end of the day.”
NEW: Max Verstappen receives five-second time penalty
The stewards have reached their verdict - and it’s not good news for Max Verstappen.
The Red Bull driver has received a five-second time penalty for this VSC infringement. He drops a spot to fourth, costing him a point in the world championship.
The gap to Lando Norris is now 44 points.
Constructors’ Championship after Brazil GP sprint
1. McLaren - 581 points
2. Ferrari - 546 points
3. Red Bull Racing - 519 points
4. Mercedes - 369 points
5. Aston Martin - 86 points
6. Haas - 46 points
7. RB - 36 points
8. Williams - 17 points
9. Alpine - 16 points
10. Sauber - 0 points
Ollie Bearman after the sprint:
“The start was tough, I got stuck in the middle. That was a bit annoying, but I made a few spots in the end. We fell back and didn’t have the pace of the cars in front.”
Bearman finished 14th after starting 10th.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc after finishing fourth in the sprint:
“I pushed like crazy to put pressure on McLaren. It didn’t work out, I’ll learn from it and tomorrow will be better.
“I wanted to try and pass Lando, it didn’t work out.”
Driver Standings after Brazil GP sprint
The gap between the top two is now 45 points!
1. Max Verstappen - 368 points
2. Lando Norris - 323 points
3. Charles Leclerc - 296 points
4. Oscar Piastri - 258 points
5. Carlos Sainz - 244 points
6. Lewis Hamilton - 189 points
7. George Russell - 180 points
8. Sergio Perez - 151 points
9. Fernando Alonso - 62 points
10. Nico Hulkenberg - 31 points
11. Lance Stroll - 24 points
12. Yuki Tsunoda - 22 points
13. Kevin Magnussen - 14 points
14. Alex Albon - 12 points
15. Daniel Ricciardo - 12 points
16. Pierre Gasly - 9 points
17. Ollie Bearman - 7 points
18. Esteban Ocon - 5 points
19. Franco Colapinto - 5 points
20. Liam Lawson - 2 points
21. Zhou Guanyu - 0 points
22. Logan Sargeant - 0 points
23. Valtteri Bottas - 0 points
Max Verstappen ‘knows what he’s doing’ on track as he fires back at driving criticism
Max Verstappen said he is a “three-time world champion who knows what I am doing” after Damon Hill accused him of acting like Wacky Races villain Dick Dastardly.
A fired-up Verstappen also hit back at his critics for being “bias” and “very annoying” after his driving tactics were placed in the spotlight following his combined 20-second penalty for forcing rival Lando Norris off twice in Mexico.
Responding to Hill’s comments, Verstappen said: “I don’t listen to those individuals. I just do my thing. I am a three-time world champion. It is my 10th year in Formula One. I know what I am doing.
“I listen to people that are close to me and objective and not just there to stir the…I cannot say the word because I will get another (penalty).
“Some people are being very annoying, and I know who those people are and I don’t pay attention to them. Some people are biased, it is fine, and it is not my problem at the end of the day. I continue with my life and I keep performing.”
McLaren team principal Andrea Stella:
“We were monitoring the gaps before to Leclerc and Verstappen to see if we could execute an easy overtake. The gap never materialised.
“We needed to see the VSC, so we immediately executed. It would not be possible without both drivers, we’re happy with the conversations which are happening right now. The support Oscar gave for Lando.
“Ideally, we’d do it earlier but the situation never materialised. As soon as you swap, there’s a possibility to overtake the McLaren. The team result comes first.”
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