BARCELONA: Lando Norris can retake the Formula One championship lead from Oscar Piastri in Spain this weekend but both said Max Verstappen remained a threat and the battle was not just a duel between McLaren team-mates.

McLaren`s top two are separated by three points in the standings after eight of 24 races and the champions have won six times this year Piastri with four to Norris`s two.

Norris led for the first time after winning the season-opener in Melbourne before ceding the advantage to Piastri in round five in Saudi Arabia but closed the gap again by winning in Monaco last Sunday.

Red Bull`s Verstappen, the four-time world champion, has won twice and is third, 25 points behind Piastri.

`I think mathematically probably the whole grid can win the championship.

I think there`s plenty of opportunities,` saidNorris.

`Max can still win, I think Ferrari I expect them to get better into the season.

`Max has been on the podium several times, he`s won races, he beat us in Imola fair and square because he was quicker. I don`t know what possibly makes you think that it`s only between us [McLaren drivers].

Spain is a favourite track for Verstappen, the place where he won for the first time in 2016, and Piastri expected the Dutch driver to go well again on Sunday.

`I don`t think he can be counted out,` the Australian told reporters. `The gap is not very large at the moment and they`ve been competitive at a decent number of circuits now.

`Of course there`s been weekends where we`ve been stronger but I think they`ve been developing their car. So I think at this point Max is definitely still in the title.`-Reuters