With both McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris finishing in the podium places at Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix, the gap between McLaren in fifth and Aston Martin in fourth, is now just 11 points.

It was a big day for McLaren whose form and pace has improved consistently over the course of the season.

Speaking after the race third placed Norris said: “It was a mega race from start to finish, a good opening lap, I learned from my mistake yesterday going wide, I told you I would go tight, and I did, and it worked out.

“So, it was a good start, good pace throughout the whole thing, probably the best pace out there today, I’m happy, stressful, hot, sweaty and a little bit tired, but a great job for the team; that’s three in a row now.

Commenting on the heat and the physicality of the race he added: “I think the three-stop made it a lot harder; just physically, you can push a lot more, even the last stint you could pretty much push flat out.

“It’s probably one of the hardest races I’ve done in a way, but it’s a nice challenge and congrats to Oscar, no mistakes, and of course Max once again.”

Piastri echoed his team-mates words about the extraordinary toughness of the race, saying, “Turn One was nice, that was definitely the game plan before the race but yeah really impressive pace, and definitely the hardest race I’ve had in my life. Lando’s still standing, he’s still going.

“It was hard, also like Lando said with the three stops it was flat out. It was 57 qualifying laps, which I feel like I’ve done.

“It was a really good race, I’m happy all the tyres stayed all together. It was good. I’m happy with another trophy too,” he said.