McLaren driver Lando Norris won Saturday’s Formula 1 sprint race at the Brazilian Grand Prix 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.

Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who also has a long shot at the title, ended fourth, just ahead of teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. The stewards’ decision after the sprint race pushed him to third ahead of Verstappen.

Baseball

Bummer, Lopez resign with Braves >> Left-hander Aaron Bummer agreed Saturday to a $13 million, two-year contract with the Atlanta Braves, who reached a revised $30 million, three-year deal with All-Star Reynaldo López that guarantees the right-hander an additional $4 million.

Atlanta had a $7.25 million option on Bummer with a $1.25 million buyout as part of a $16 million, five-year contract he signed with the Chicago White Sox. He gets salaries of $3.5 million next season and $9.5 million in 2026.

López agreed last November to a $30 million, three-year contract that called for salaries of $4 million in 2024 and $11 million in the following two seasons and included an $8 million club option for 2027 with a $4 million buyout. His superseding deal has salaries of $8 million in 2025, $14 million in 2026 and $8 million in 2027.

Cole opts out, Rizzo option declined by Yankees >> Gerrit Cole exercised his opt out from his New York Yankees contract, giving the team two days to void the opt out by adding a $36 million salary for 2029, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press.

Three days after the Yankees lost the World Series, New York said Saturday it declined first baseman Anthony Rizzo’s $17 million option in favor of a $6 million buyout, making the first baseman a free agent.

Cole’s decision, which was expected, was conveyed by a person who spoke on condition of anonymity because it was not publicly announced. Cole would give up $144 million in the four remaining seasons of his $324 million, nine-year contract.

NASCAR

Almirola defends NASCAR Championship >> Aric Almirola won the Xfinity Series race Saturday at Martinsville Speedway, a victory that gave Cole Custer a chance to defend his NASCAR championship.

Almirola is running a part-time schedule for Joe Gibbs Racing so he wasn’t playoff eligible. AJ Allmendinger and Austin Hill had already qualified for the playoffs, so there were two open slots for six drivers.

The win by Almirola, his third of the season, allowed the final two slots in the championship race to be decided on points. But, Almirola over a final 16-lap sprint to the finish had to hold off both Sammy Smith and Chandler Smith, either of whom would have made next Saturday’s title-decider at Phoenix Raceway with a win at Martinsville.

Basketball

Chicago Sky hire new Head Coach >> Tyler Marsh has been hired as coach of the Chicago Sky, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Saturday night.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no formal announcement had been made.

The Las Vegas Aces assistant inherits a squad led by Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. The Sky also have a lottery pick in next year’s WNBA draft.

Soccer

Man City lose to Bournemouth >> Manchester City’s 32-game unbeaten streak in the Premier League ended in a 2-1 loss at Bournemouth.

Pep Guardiola had warned this week that his Manchester City team could be “in trouble” after injuries kept piling up, and those comments quickly proved prophetic on an eventful day that also saw Arsenal lose 1-0 at Newcastle.

The biggest surprise came at Bournemouth, though, as the Cherries stunningly took a 2-0 lead at home thanks to goals from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson and then held off City’s comeback attempt.

Liverpool back on Top >> Brighton largely outplayed Liverpool in the first half at Anfield and easily could have led by more than one goal at the break, but Liverpool turned things around in less than three minutes in the second.

Cody Gakpo’s attempted cross sailed past both teammate Darwin Nunez and the Brighton defense into the net for the equalizer in the 69th and Mohamed Salah’s sublime finish in the 72nd sealed the win.

Salah was released down the right by Trent Alexander-Arnold on a quick counter, cut inside a defender and curled an unstoppable shot into the net with his left foot for a goal that put Liverpool two points clear of City in first place.

Tennis

Zverev advances to Paris Masters final against Humbert >> Alexander Zverev reached the Paris Masters final for the second time after beating former champion Holger Rune 6-3, 7-6 (4) on Saturday.

The 2020 runner-up next plays 15th-seeded Frenchman Ugo Humbert, who downed 2018 champion Karen Khachanov 6-7 (6), 6-4, 6-3 to reach his first Masters final at the age of 26.

Victory on Sunday would give Zverev a seventh Masters title and also move him past top-ranked Jannik Sinner for most wins on the ATP tour this year. They are tied on 65.

Despite a heavy schedule — this was his 85th match this year — Zverev went to practice afterward. It is a routine he is imposing on himself to close the gap on four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner, who has won two majors.