Max Verstappen cruises to Sao Paulo Sprint victory after jumping Lando Norris at first corner

Max Verstappen reinforced his position as the dominant driver on the grid with victory in the final Formula 1 Sprint race of the season at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

The runaway title winner found himself second on the grid after being pipped to pole by Lando Norris in his McLaren.

Norris’ lead lasted a matter of yards, as Verstappen got a superb getaway and jumped past the pole sitter at the first corner.

George Russell powered past Norris before the end of the first lap as the McLaren man struggled to get heat into his tyres.

Norris took second back a couple of laps later, but Verstappen’s Red Bull was a speck in the distance.

After passing Norris into the first corner, Verstappen enjoyed a 24-lap cruise round the Interlagos circuit as he was never threatened in taking his fourth Sprint win of the season.

“It was important to get ahead at the start,” Verstappen said. "Then it was about management.

“The tyres were wearing a lot, 24 laps on one set is long, but we managed it quite well today.”

Norris was best of the rest, coming home 4.287 seconds behind the Dutch driver.

Sergio Perez is under pressure to retain his seat alongside Verstappen next season, but did his cause some good by taking third.

The Mexican is battling with Lewis Hamilton for second in the drivers’ standings, and he saw his rival come home in seventh in his Mercedes.

Russell took fourth for Mercedes, with the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc in fifth.

Yuki Tsunoda took an excellent sixth for AlphaTauri. Carlos Sainz, Daniel Ricciardo and Oscar Piastri rounded out the top 10.

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