Lando Norris understands the value of every point at this stage of the season. He came into the US Grand Prix trying to close a 52-point gap to Max Verstappen. That meant he needed to gain, on average, nine points per weekend until the end of the season. But Verstappen was able to extend his advantage in Saturday’s running. The Dutchman took pole for the Sprint race, his first of any description since the Austrian GP in June. Norris was only fourth on the grid. Norris has struggled with race starts this year but gained two places at turn one here, passing George Russell and Charles Leclerc. Bu…