SAO PAULO (AP) — Red Bull’s Max Verstappen suggests he won’t change his aggressive racing style at this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix as he bids for a fourth consecutive Formula 1 title. McLaren’s Lando Norris needs a win at the historic Interlagos track in Sao Paolo to maintain any realistic title hopes.
Some new elements could spice up the clash between the two drivers, who have received penalties in the past two races in Austin, Texas and Mexico for their aggressiveness on the track. Interlagos has a new tarmac, rain is expected all weekend, and Verstappen was unclear as to whether he’ll have a new engine and subsequent grid penalty.
Saturday will feature the penultimate sprint race of the season and a tribute to legendary three-time champion Ayrton Senna, who died 30 years ago. Seven-time F1 champion and honorary Brazilian Lewis Hamilton will drive a McLaren once steered by one of the country’s top sports heroes in front of 60,000 fans.
Norris closed the gap on Verstappen to 47 points in Mexico after a furious encounter that caused penalties to the Dutchman amounting to 20 seconds. The British driver was penalized in the previous race at the U.S. Grand Prix as he battled the defending champion.
Verstappen has 362 points in the drivers’ championship with four races and two sprint races to go, while Norris has 315. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc has a more distant shot at the title. With 291 points, he told media on Thursday he is not expecting a leading performance by his team this weekend.
Challenges for Verstappen and McLaren
Verstappen said in Mexico that F1 has become over-policed. Upon his arrival in Brazil, he said he didn’t care about critics of his aggressive style. Though he and Norris claim to have a respectful relationship, another showdown is expected between the two in Sunday’s race. The McLarens are expected to have an upper hand.
Verstappen won twice at the 84-year-old Interlagos circuit, including last year’s race, in which Norris finished second.
The Dutchman hasn’t won in 10 races. Verstappen’s last victory came in Spain in June — after a stretch of seven wins in the first 10 races.
“We want to do well, but of course it also needs to be possible. We still have a good lead,” Verstappen said Thursday. “I just try to enjoy the moment, try to just always optimize the performance.”
The earliest the title could be won by Verstappen is in Las Vegas on Nov. 24. For Norris to have a chance, he will likely have to take the title fight to the December finale in Abu Dhabi.
Norris’ bid for the drivers’ title is a tough one, but McLaren has a better chance at dethroning Red Bull for the constructors’ championship. Ferrari jumped ahead of Red Bull for second in the standings after Carlos Sainz Jr.’s win in Mexico.
Red Bull, which won the last two constructors’ titles, is now third.
Another challenge that is expected to affect everyone at Interlagos is new asphalt. Drivers of various teams said Thursday they are unsure what impact that change will have on their performance.
Hamilton honors Senna in 30-year tribute
For the second time in his life, Mercedes’ Hamilton will be on board a McLaren once driven by three-time champion Senna, who died in 1994 after a crash during the San Marino Grand Prix.
Hamilton will steer Senna’s title-winning MP4/5B after Saturday’s sprint race. Weeks ago, Honda and McLaren said they would bring the car that allowed the Brazilian to clinch the 1990 drivers’ championship.
During his time at McLaren, Hamilton drove Senna’s MP4/4 car around Silverstone in 2009 for a British TV program.
“It will be an emotional experience,” the 39-year-old Hamilton said in Sao Paulo. He arrived at Interlagos for Thursday’s media day wearing a shirt that read “rest in peace, Ayrton Senna” and pants in the color of the Brazilian flag.
“Every time we come here it’s an opportunity to do that (honor Senna), and I think so many of the drivers also do that,” Hamilton said. “But I never in a million years thought I’d ever get to drive Senna’s car here. I remember someone contacted me, my manager told me about it, and I jumped at the opportunity.”
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