F1 braces for more Verstappen-Norris drama as Hamilton drives Senna’s revered car

SAO PAULO (AP) — Red Bull’s Max Verstappen suggests he will not change his aggressive racing style at this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix as he bids for a fourth straight Formula One title.McLaren’s Lando Norris has needing a win at Sao Paolo’s historic Interlagos circuit to keep any realistic title hopes alive.

Some new elements could spice up the showdown between the two drivers, who received penalties in the last 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 if he will have a new engine and a subsequent grid penalty.

Saturday will see 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 driven by one of the country’s greatest sporting heroes in front of 60,000 fans.

Norris closed the gap on Verstappen to 47 points in Mexico after a furious encounter that saw the Dutchman earn 20 seconds worth of penalties. The British driver was penalized in the previous race at the US Grand Prix while battling with 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 remote shot at the title. With 291 points, he told the media on Thursday that he does not expect a top performance from his team this weekend.

Challenges for Verstappen and McLaren

Verstappen said in Mexico that Formula 1 has become over-political. Upon his arrival in Brazil, he said he didn’t care about critics of his aggressive style. Although he and Norris maintain a respectful relationship, another clash between the two is expected in Sunday’s race. The McLarens are expected to have an advantage.

Verstappen has won twice at the 84-year-old Interlagos circuit, including last year’s race where Norris finished second.

The Dutchman has not won in 10 races. Verstappen’s last victory came in Spain in June – after a run of seven wins in the first 10 races.

“We want to do well, but of course it has to be possible. We still have a good lead,” Verstappen said on Thursday. “I just try to enjoy the moment, I always try to optimize the performance.”

The earliest Verstappen could win the title is in Las Vegas on November 24. For Norris to have a chance, he will likely have to take the title fight to December’s final in Abu Dhabi.

Norris’ bid for the drivers’ title is a tough one, but McLaren have the better chance of dethroning Red Bull for the constructors’ championship. Ferrari jumped ahead of Red Bull for second in the standings after Carlos Sainz Jr.’s victory in Mexico.

Red Bull, who have won the last two constructors’ titles, are now third.

Another challenge expected to affect everyone at Interlagos is the new tarmac. Drivers from various teams said on Thursday that they were unsure what impact the change would have on their performance.

Hamilton honors Senna in 30-year tribute

For the second time in his life, Mercedes’ Hamilton will drive a McLaren once driven by three-time champion Senna, who died in 1994 following a crash during the San Marino Grand Prix.

Hamilton will drive Senna’s MP4/5B, which won the title after Saturday’s sprint race. Weeks ago, Honda and McLaren said they would bring the car that helped the Brazilian win the drivers’ championship in 1990.

During his time at McLaren, Hamilton drove Senna’s MP4/4 car around Silverstone in 2009 for a British TV programme.

“It will be an exciting experience,” Hamilton, 39, said in Sao Paulo. He arrived at Interlagos for Thursday’s press day wearing a shirt that read “rest in peace, Ayrton Senna” and pants the color of the Brazilian flag.

“Every time we come here it’s an opportunity to do that (honour Senna) and I think so many of the drivers do that too,” Hamilton said. “But I never thought in a million years that I would ever get to drive Senna’s car. car here I remember someone contacted me, my manager told me about it and I jumped at the chance.”

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