Lando Norris knows he likely must pass team-mate Oscar Piastri on the first lap if he is to become Formula 1 World champion on Sunday. The Brit left the door open for his nearest title rival with a mistake which forced him to abort his final push for pole.

And Piastri walked right through it, completing a perfect Saturday to keep the pressure on the championship leader. Norris was stony-faced after getting out of his McLaren but minutes later wore a rueful smile as he said: “I had a bit of understeer and was going to go off so I had to abort. But that’s the way it is, Oscar did a good lap and drove well, he’s been driving well all weekend. Nothing to complain about, I just didn’t do the lap.

Asked what he thinks he can achieve in the Grand Prix, he added: “The first couple of laps there are always opportunities for everyone but, after that, it’s probably going to be pretty straightforward. We’re in a good position and I was much happier today than I was yesterday.”

Piastri must take as many points as he can off his team-mate and admitted it is “pretty much” win-or-bust for him on Sunday, despite already having won the Sprint race. He said: “We left [the car] pretty much the same, very minor tweaks here and there. Everything has felt great all weekend and, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Max Verstappen“It was really good, the team did a great job. It will be pretty tough with the two stops as well, we’re going to be pushing pretty hard the whole time. I don’t think it will be as hot as a couple of years ago so hopefully not as bad as that, but you’re pulling an insane amount of G-Force around here multiple times a lap. It’s hard work.”

Asked if it is “win-or-bust” for him on Sunday, given he still has a 22-point gap to close in these final two Grands Prix of the season, Piastri added: “Pretty much. I’ll try my best. I’m starting from the best spot so I’ll try to do more of the same as what I did in the Sprint.”

Max Verstappen is third on the grid having made some positive changes to the set-up of his Red Bull, having spent the whole Sprint struggling for grip and pace. But he made it clear he still does not have an ideal RB21 underneath him and cast doubt on his chances of beating Norris, which he needs to do to keep himself in championship contention.

The Dutchman said: “This qualifying was a little bit better, though we were still quite far off. I felt a little bit happier, but there are still some limitations that don’t allow us to push harder. At least we are P3, starting on the second row and that creates better opportunities. This weekend has not been what I wanted it to be.”