MEXICO CITY -- Prior to the Mexican Grand Prix, it was hard to make a convincing argument that Lando Norris was the favorite for this year's Formula 1 drivers' title. The British driver was second in the standings off the back of two podiums, but was being rapidly caught by an on-form Max Verstappen in third place and was still 14 points adrift of McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri in the lead.

The momentum was with Verstappen, the math was with Piastri. The argument for Norris winning the title fell somewhere in between.

He couldn't be ruled out, but after five races without a grand prix victory, he was in need of a top-drawer performance to light the blue-touch paper. He needed a weekend to silence his doubters, a weekend to rebuild his midseason momentum, and perhaps even a weeken

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