Sawt Falasteen - Snappy Norris denies change to title approach

His win for McLaren lifted him to within three points of team-mate and championship leader Oscar Piastri and ended a six-race winless run since the season-opening Australian Grand Prix.

But when reminded that he could regain the leadership of the title race on Sunday, he stressed: "It's not something I look at."

Speaking to reporters at the Circuit de Catalunya ahead of this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix, Norris said: "I think you ask me this question every week, and it's the same answer.

"Like I say always, it's a great feeling to be in the lead of the championship and to have more points than everyone, but again it’s not something I look at.

"It’s not something that changes anything I do day to day.

"It doesn't change how hard I work or what I try to achieve. I'll just try and win this weekend and I'll try and win in Montreal and then I'll try and win in Austria.

"It's got nothing to do with what position I am."

- 'Whole grid can win' -

His weary reply reflected some of the fatigue of the F1 circus as they gathered for the third and final event of a demanding European 'triple-header' of races in Italy, Monaco and Spain.

It also extended to ridiculing one reporter's question that suggested the title race came down to his duel with Piastri and was effectively a 'two-horse' race.

"Mathematically, the whole grid can still win the championship at the minute," he replied.

"So if you think it's just out of me in Oscar, then I think you're a bit silly.”

He went on to explain that other teams and drivers, including defending four-time champion Max Verstappen, remained strong contenders after only eight of this year’s 24 races.

"I think there are plenty of opportunities," he said.

"Max can still win. Ferrari, I expect them to get better through the season. But, come on, we're racing Max every weekend. He's been on the podium several times.

"He's won races, he beat us in Imola fair and square because he was quicker. So, I don't know what possibly makes you think that it's only out of me and Oscar."

Norris may have appeared 'thin-skinned' knowing that McLaren could lose some performance this weekend with the introduction of strict tests of front wing flexibility for all cars – an area rivals believe has given the champion team an advantage.

Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur suggested the new ruling could be a "game changer".

Norris may also have recalled that Verstappen, who is seeking his fourth consecutive Spanish triumph on one of his favourite circuits, beat him last year when he wasted pole position.

H.Darwish--SF-PST