Lando Norris honored his former mentor, Gil de Ferran, with a heartfelt tribute following his triumph at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Securing victory from pole position at Interlagos has solidified Norris as the leading contender for the Formula 1 championship, extending his lead over teammate Oscar Piastri by 24 points with only three races left.
The focus of Norris’s win was not on the championship but on remembering Gil de Ferran, the Brazilian former IndyCar racer who tragically passed away in December 2023 at the age of 56 due to a heart attack during a private motorsport event in Florida. De Ferran had played a significant role at McLaren as both a sporting director and advisor.
Expressing his emotions after the win, Norris dedicated his success to de Ferran, stating, “This one was for Gil, one of my mentors growing up [who died] a couple of years ago. This one was for him, I’m sure he’d be very proud of it all. I was thinking about that while I was driving. A perfect weekend.”
While Norris celebrated his important victory, attention also turned to Max Verstappen’s remarkable performance. Starting from the pit lane after adjustments following a poor qualifying, Verstappen showcased exceptional driving skills to finish third, less than 11 seconds behind Norris. The intense competition highlighted the need for Norris and his team to improve their pace.
Reflecting on the race, Norris remarked, “It’s a great win but, seeing how quick Max was today, I’m disappointed that we weren’t quicker. That’s where my mind is at, at the moment. I want to see the team to congratulate them but also to find out why we weren’t quick enough.” He emphasized the need to focus on continuous improvement in the remaining races.
In the constructors’ championship battle, Piastri finished fifth, earning 10 points, while rookie Oliver Bearman secured sixth place for Haas, contributing valuable points. Haas is now within two points of Aston Martin in the race for seventh place in the constructors’ standings.
Additionally, Sky has enhanced its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle, offering a comprehensive package that includes HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, and Hayu, along with 135 channels and full coverage of Formula 1. Sky’s coverage includes live broadcasts of practice sessions, qualifiers, and races throughout the season, as well as exclusive content on the Premier League, EFL, darts, and golf.