LANDO NORRIS coming out on top in a wheel-to-wheel battle with title rival Max Verstappen at the Mexico Grand Prix was vindication of his “fair” driving, according to McLaren team principal Andrea Stella.

Norris finished second behind Carlos Sainz to take 10 points out of Verstappen’s lead and will head to Brazil next weekend, trailing the three-time world champion by 47 points with four races remaining and 120 points still up for grabs.

A week on from Norris being demoted behind Verstappen at the United States Grand Prix for overtaking his rival off the track, a penalty McLaren contested, the championship protagonists locked horns again in Mexico City.