McLaren have mentioned their precedence is to win the Method 1 constructors’ title after Lando Norris’s problem for the drivers’ crown was all however resulted in Brazil on the weekend.

“The constructors’ championship was all the time our precedence, so this does not change something,” workforce boss Andrea Stella mentioned after Norris began on pole and completed sixth, whereas Max Verstappen received from seventeenth on the grid.

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The Crimson Bull driver is now 62 factors away from the Briton, his closest rival, with three rounds and 86 factors nonetheless to struggle for.

Meaning Verstappen may clinch a fourth successive title in Las Vegas later this month.

McLaren elevated their lead over Ferrari to 36 factors, nonetheless.

Verstappen’s race was acclaimed as one of many nice drives within the sport’s historical past, even by those that had criticised his type beforehand, though Norris instructed there was a component of luck concerned.

“He drove effectively, he bought a bit fortunate,” Norris informed Sky Sports activities.

Verstappen didn’t really feel that means after the second part of qualifying when he was caught out by a pink flag that left him twelfth with an extra 5 place drop for an engine change.

The Dutch driver had been quickest within the first part of qualifying, whereas Norris simply squeaked by way of in fifteenth place together with his ultimate effort, and admitted later he had felt like tearing up the storage.

Within the race, Verstappen was helped by a pink flag that gave him a free tyre change after Norris had pitted. However that got here after he had overtaken six vehicles on the primary lap and bought himself right into a place to take full benefit.

Norris in the meantime made a few errors, working off observe and shedding positions. The moist situations additionally meant there was no benefit from drag discount.

Stella blamed the automotive somewhat than the motive force, pointing to brake issues.

“Once we lock the tyres with a automotive like now we have right this moment, I’m not wanting on the driver. I’m why the automotive retains locking the entrance tyres in situations like this. I do not suppose stress was a big issue in any respect,” Stella mentioned.

“We’ve got struggled with the lock-ups all weekend in moist situations with each drivers and I feel from a automotive standpoint that is additionally one thing that we have to look into.”

Solely 5 of the 1,121 earlier championship races had been received from seventeenth or decrease and Verstappen’s victory, his eighth of the season, ended a 10-race run with out success for the Dutch driver.

He additionally beat Michael Schumacher’s file of 896 consecutive days main the championship.