McLaren driver Lando Norris won Saturday’s Formula 1 sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo to cut his deficit to championship leader Max Verstappen.

But Norris had to thank teammate Oscar Piastri for handing him victory at Interlagos.

Red Bull’s Verstappen finished third, but lost one position due to a virtual safety car infringement.

The gap between Norris and Verstappen, with four grands prix and a final sprint race to the end of the season, is now 44 points.

Norris started second on the grid and, late into the 24 laps of the sprint race, Piastri gave way to him.

Three-time series champion Verstappen will find it tough to beat the McLarens in Sunday’s race. He has received a five-place grid punishment after changing his engine for the sixth time in the season — the maximum allowed is four.

Baseball: LHP Blake Snell opted out of his contract with the Giants to become a free agent for the second straight offseason. The 31-year-old two-time Cy Young Award winner agreed last offseason to a two-year, $62 million contract. ... INF/OF Cody Bellinger opted into his contract to stay with the Cubs. Bellinger, 29, signed a three-year, $90 million last offseason that included separate opt-out clauses after the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

NFL: Patriots rookie QB Drake Maye cleared the concussion protocol and will start Sunday’s road game against the Titans. ... Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott will not play Sunday against the Falcons because of disciplinary reasons, ESPN reported. The 29-year-old three-time Pro Bowler didn’t accompany the team on the charter flight to Atlanta.

NHL: The Islanders placed forward Mathew Barzal on long-term injured reserve with an upper-body injury. Barzal, 27, last played Wednesday and must be out at least 10 games and 24 calendar days.