Lando Norris admitted he spent the entire French Grand Prix "trying to keep up" with Fernando Alonso despite upgrades to his McLaren for the race.
The papaya team went into the weekend level on points with Alpine in the battle for fourth place. Those two teams look the most likely to be 'best of the rest' this season, though Alfa Romeo remain within touching distance.
And the rivalry began to ramp up on the eve of last weekend's race. Wily old competitor Alonso declared McLaren to be "unreachable" – a comment which led to Norris snapping back by accusing the Spaniard of playing "mind games".
