Mexico City Grand Prix: Lewis Hamilton calls Max Verstappen ‘cut throat’ in title race

McLaren’s drivers go into the final five races with freedom to race against each other and without internal team rules hanging over them – other than not colliding with each other.

Norris was facing unspecified “repercussions” after colliding with Piastri while snatching third place from him in the first series of turns in Singapore.

Following the incident between the two at the start of the race at the US Grand Prix last weekend, these items have now been removed.

“There’s a degree of responsibility on my part in the sprint, and we’re starting this weekend with a clean slate for both of us, just getting out there and going racing,” Piastri said.

The Australian, who won at the Zandvoort Circuit, saw his progress decline after losing to Norris in each of the past four races, but he said he was also surprised that Verstappen entered the equation so quickly.

“The form he has had since Monza is a bit surprising,” Piastri said.

“There were some flashes earlier in the season but there were also some pretty big dips. We know they were throwing a lot of things at their car to try to improve it but he got to the battle quicker than I expected.”

However, when asked if he was worried about Verstappen, Piastri said: “It’s not something I’m really thinking about. He’s been consistent and strong the last few weekends but there’s no point in worrying about that or focusing on it.”

“The thing that will help me win the championship is to get the most out of myself, the car, and the team. It’s there, it’s in the battle but in the end it doesn’t change the way I go about the race.”

Norris added: “Max has had a very good form in the last month or so. They have been doing better than we have.

“He’s won a fair number of races and he’s Max Verstappen. You’d be silly not to want to give Max a chance.

“At the moment, they are in better condition, they were faster in a lot of races. But we still have chances. We have a better car between now and the end of the season and we just have to take advantage of that.”

“Obviously we had a good round, we definitely enjoyed it a lot and we will try to carry this momentum forward,” Verstappen said. “We know we need to be perfect until the end to have a chance, but we are just trying to maximize everything and see where we end up.”