Following the Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Max Verstappen appeared to make a pointed social media gesture aimed at Lando Norris. The incident highlighted tensions between the two drivers after Verstappen suggested Norris had interfered with his final qualifying lap, drawing attention to their competitive dynamic.
Tensions Rise During Singapore Qualifying
During qualifying, Verstappen’s chance for pole position was compromised as he approached the final chicane in the turbulent air behind Norris’s slower McLaren. Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, expressed frustration over the team radio, saying,
“You can thank your mate for that. Hard luck,”
after Verstappen was edged out by George Russell of Mercedes. This clearly indicated that the Dutch driver believed Norris’s presence impacted his lap time.
In his post-qualifying interview, Verstappen delivered a thinly veiled warning to Norris, emphasizing the frustration he felt about the situation.
“That’s what happens when there’s a car in front of you just cruising two seconds in front. That’s noted, it will be remembered as well,”
he told David Coulthard, later clarifying, “Not Oscar,” to avoid confusion with another driver. Verstappen acknowledged it was unfortunate, suggesting his pole shot might have been more competitive without the hinderance.
Despite missing out on pole, Verstappen remained positive about the team’s performance, stating,
“It’s always very exciting here in qualifying. Of course, I’m disappointed to not be first, but for us this weekend so far has been really good. The car has been very competitive, so for us to be second again is very good.”
Norris’s Strong Race but Overtake Remains Elusive
At the race start, Norris gained two places early, moving into third ahead of his McLaren teammate. He appeared to be closing on Verstappen for second, but despite his pace, he could not find a way past the Red Bull driver. Norris was candid about the difficulties he faced, highlighting the challenge of overtaking at the Singapore circuit.
During the post-race press conference, Norris commented,
“I don’t think we have maybe the best or clearest picture, and that’s the only reason we couldn’t win today. But the pace was, I think, also the best out there. It didn’t matter – I couldn’t get past Max. He didn’t make any mistakes and it’s too difficult to follow here.”
He added insight into his own mindset, explaining,
“So a bit of a shame, but I did what I could. And even though I was feeling good with the car, and I felt like if I could get past Max, I’d be able to try and have a crack at catching George, and I think I would. It’s just too difficult to follow and too difficult to overtake.”
Verstappen’s Instagram Post Fuels Speculation
After the race, Verstappen seemingly referenced the qualifying tussle through a subtle social media post. He shared a photograph on his Instagram story showing Norris trailing behind him during the event. Fans quickly recognized this as a pointed reminder of the earlier qualifying incident involving “dirty air.”
One fan noted Verstappen’s timing, commenting,
“He’s always got perfect timing with those posts,”
while another said,
“Hahaha. That’s a message for Lando Norris alright.”
A third added humorously,
“This is what dirty air looks like,”
underscoring the difficulties Verstappen faced behind Norris.
Implications for Their Rivalry Going Forward
This exchange, both on and off the track, signals a tightening rivalry between Verstappen and Norris. As teammates of competing teams Red Bull Racing and McLaren push for supremacy, moments like these may intensify their contests in the upcoming races. Verstappen’s discreet social media message suggests that these incidents are unlikely to be forgotten, adding an extra layer to their ongoing battle in Formula 1.
The Singapore Grand Prix thus not only affected race results but also injected new tension into the Verstappen-Norris relationship, hinting at more heated exchanges and strategic mind games to come in the championship fight.
