Lando Norris extended his lead in the drivers' world championship to 24 points ahead of McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri with a well-judged victory in Sunday's dramatic Sao Paulo Grand Prix – but Red Bull's Max Verstappen stole the show by racing from a pit-lane start to finish third.

In a tense and incident-filled contest, Norris won by 10.388 seconds ahead of Mercedes' teenage Italian rookie Kimi Antonelli with the four-time champion Verstappen just 0.362 seconds behind after a charging drive, including a puncture, to a podium finish.

George Russell came fourth in the second Mercedes ahead of the luckless Piastri and three remarkable rookies in Haas's Oliver Bearman and the Racing Bulls of Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar. Nico Hulkenberg was ninth for Sauber and Pierre Gasly 10th for Alpine.

It was Norris's seventh win of the season and the 11th of his career, moving him within sight of a first world title with a comfortable advantage ahead of Piastri, who fought hard and collected a 10-second penalty, with three rounds remaining.

"I was pushing and it was an amazing race," said Norris, who dedicated his win to the late Gil de Feran, a former driver who nurtured his early career. "It's so nice to win in Brazil at this amazing track and amazing fans. This is for Gil. My mentor a few years ago. A perfect weekend."

Asked about the title race, he said: "I'm not thinking about it, not yet, not at all. It's a great win, but to see Max and how quick he was today. That's where my mind is at. And there is a long way to go." (AFP)