Oscar Piastri’s hopes of changing into F1 world champion have taken one other probably calamitous blow after he needed to serve a time penalty for inflicting a collision whereas McLaren teammate Lando Norris was roaring to victory on the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The day after he crashed and went pointless within the dash race, Australia’s nice hope Piastri ended up ending fifth at Interlagos on Sunday to proceed a woeful run of 5 races in a row that he’s did not make the rostrum.
That’s allowed Norris, who took one other immaculate win from pole, to maneuver 24 factors away from the long-time championship chief of their title duel with solely three races and one dash to go.
With a grand prix win price 25 factors, that places Norris nearly an entire race victory forward of Piastri after an ideal weekend for the English driver during which he additionally gained the dash.
Certainly, Norris can now afford to complete second to Piastri in all of the remaining three races, in addition to the ultimate dash spherical of the season in Qatar, and nonetheless take raise the crown.
Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli held on for a career-best second place as Crimson Bull’s champion Max Verstappen completed third after one other of his classic drives during which he began from the pit lane but nonetheless made the rostrum.
Piastri’s probability of shifting up from his fourth-place grid begin successfully ended when, after an early security automotive, he tried to make a transfer on the within on the restart to get previous Antonelli.
However they clipped wheels, sending the Italian spinning into Charles Leclerc, who needed to retire from the race along with his Ferrari having suffered suspension injury.
“He left me with no area,” Piastri protested, though the transfer catapulted him into second place behind Norris.
But stewards dominated he ought to have a 10-second penalty, which he served at his pit-stop and will solely re-emerge in eighth place.
He may progress solely three spots from there, and after he was unable to get previous George Russell for fourth in a late cost, his hopes of changing into the primary Australian F1 champion since Alan Jones in 1980 at the moment are wanting bleak.
For Norris, although, the title should really feel tantalisingly shut. He was fairly dominant, simply as he had been in Mexico Metropolis final day out, crossing the road 10.3 seconds away from Antonelli.
Verstappen is now 49 factors adrift of Norris, and now solely 25 behind Piastri, with solely 83 factors to play for throughout the concluding three rounds.
Lewis Hamilton additionally retired with injury his Ferrari sustained after crashing into the again of Franco Colapinto on lap one to finish a depressing weekend for the seven-time world champion.
© AAP
