Norris: Verstappen, Ferrari, still F1 title threats

Lando Norris tin retake the Formula 1 pb from Oscar Piastri successful Spain this play but the Briton has said the drivers' title remains much than conscionable a conflict betwixt McLaren teammates.

The 2 are separated by 3 points astatine the apical of the standings aft 8 of 24 races and champions McLaren person acceptable the gait and won six times this twelvemonth -- Piastri with 4 to Norris's two.

Norris led for the archetypal clip aft winning the season-opener successful Melbourne earlier ceding the vantage to Piastri successful circular 5 successful Saudi Arabia but closed the spread again by winning successful Monaco past Sunday.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen, the four-time satellite champion, has won doubly but is 3rd and 25 points down Piastri.

"It's a large feeling to beryllium successful the pb of the title and to person much points than everyone, but it's not thing I look at," Norris told reporters astatine the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya connected Thursday.

"It's not thing that changes thing I bash time to day. It doesn't alteration however hard I enactment oregon what I effort to achieve. I conscionable effort to triumph this play and I'll effort and triumph successful Montreal and I'll effort and triumph successful Austria. It's got thing to bash with what presumption I americium in.

"I deliberation mathematically astir apt the full grid tin triumph the championship. I deliberation there's plentifulness of opportunities," helium continued.

"Max tin inactive win, I deliberation Ferrari -- I expect them to get amended into the season."

Verstappen has won doubly this play and Spain is simply a favourite track, the spot wherever helium won for the archetypal clip successful 2016.

The Dutch operator has won the past 3 Spanish Grands Prix, and 4 successful total, and has been connected the podium 7 times successful a enactment there.

"Max has been connected the podium respective times, he's won races, helium bushed america successful Imola just and quadrate due to the fact that helium was quicker. I don't cognize what perchance makes you deliberation that it's lone betwixt america [McLaren drivers]," said Norris.

Formula 1 besides has a beforehand helping regularisation alteration coming into effect this weekend, with the governing FIA carrying retired much stringent stiffness tests.

McLaren accidental they bash not expect to beryllium affected but others are taking a hold and spot approach, with Ferrari adjacent speaking of a imaginable game-changer.

"There are tweaks present and there, but thing that volition alteration however we person to bash it," Norris said.