Lando Norris expressed heartfelt remembrance for his late mentor, Gil de Ferran, following his triumph at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Securing victory from pole position at Interlagos, Norris solidified his position as the frontrunner for the Formula 1 championship, now leading his teammate Oscar Piastri by 24 points with three races left.
The win was more than just a step towards the title for Norris, as he dedicated the achievement to De Ferran, reflecting on the former IndyCar racer’s untimely passing in December 2023. De Ferran, who tragically suffered a fatal heart attack during a private motorsport event in Florida, had been a significant figure at McLaren, serving as sporting director and advisor.
In a poignant tribute to his late mentor, Norris remarked, “This victory is for Gil, one of my mentors from the past who passed away a couple of years ago. I’m sure he would be proud of this moment. It was on my mind throughout the race. A perfect weekend.”
Despite his success, Norris acknowledged the exceptional performance of Max Verstappen, who started from the pit lane, climbed to third place, and closed within 11 seconds of Norris at the finish line. Reflecting on Verstappen’s pace, Norris expressed a desire to understand why his own team was not quicker and emphasized the need to focus on improvement.
In the race standings, Piastri settled for fifth place, earning 10 points compared to Norris’s 25-point win. British newcomer Oliver Bearman also shined, securing sixth place for Haas, who are now only two points behind Aston Martin in the race for seventh place in the constructors’ championship.
For fans, Sky has enhanced its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, and Hayu, alongside 135 channels and comprehensive Formula 1 coverage. Sky offers exclusive broadcasting of every practice, qualifying session, and race throughout the season, in addition to coverage of other sports like the Premier League, EFL, darts, and golf.