Lando Norris can play it down all he likes – an F1 world title would put him among the elite

Key Highlights

• “It’s the same as every weekend, nothing changes,” he began.
• Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, flanking the Briton on either side, echoed a similar sentiment.
• This was all their years of media training at the most simplistic level. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMoments later, a Brazilian reporter couldn’t help but remark: “You all say it’s a normal weekend but… well… it’s not.” This seemed the appropriate cut-through moment. The three F1 title contenders lined up in Thursday’s press conference in Abu Dhabi (Getty)In top spot, Norris is on the brink of becoming Britain’s 11th F1 world champion, in the sport’s 75th year, and the first McLaren champion since Lewis Hamilton in 2008.
• Verstappen could become just the fourth man to win five world titles.
• Piastri, 16 points off with only 25 to play for, is looking to become Australia’s first champion in 45 years.