Max Verstappen expressed his frustration after what he described as being blocked by Lando Norris during the final moments of qualifying for the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Circuit. The incident prevented Verstappen from claiming pole position, which instead went to Mercedes’ George Russell, who set a new lap record with his last run.
The four-time world champion will start the race from second place after an error near the Turns 16 and 17 chicane ended his final flying lap prematurely. Verstappen blamed Norris’s slow pace in front, as well as turbulent air, for disrupting his rhythm during this critical phase of qualifying.
Details of the Qualifying Clash Between Verstappen and Norris
During the final Q3 session, Norris was the first to complete a second timed lap, going out of sync with the other nine drivers, which complicated the track situation. As Verstappen approached the McLaren driver on his final attempt, Norris was already slowing to return to the pits, causing Verstappen to navigate through dirty air. The Red Bull driver’s mistake in the last chicane, where Norris moved slightly to the inside, cost him valuable time.
Despite the proximity of the two cars on track, race officials determined there was no reason to investigate Norris for impeding, as sufficient distance existed between them. Verstappen’s race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, shared the sentiment that the McLaren’s slow pace affected the Dutchman’s chances of securing pole.
Verstappen’s Reaction and Reflection on the Incident
Following the session, Verstappen openly expressed his disappointment, saying,
“That’s what happens when there is a car in front of you just cruising two seconds in front.”
“That’s noted, it will be remembered as well.”
— Max Verstappen, Four-time World Champion
When asked to clarify who he was referring to, Verstappen hinted at Norris by quipping, “Not Oscar,” pointing instead to the other McLaren on track, a fact confirmed by video footage.
Despite his vexation, the Dutchman remained realistic about his overall qualifying performance:
“That was a bit of a shame otherwise I think it would have been close for pole. It is always very exciting here in qualifying and of course, disappointed not to be first but for us, this weekend has been really good so far. The car has been very competitive so for us to be second again is very good.”
— Max Verstappen
Current Championship Context and Race Expectations
Verstappen’s recent victories in Italy and Azerbaijan have brought him back into the hunt for his fifth Formula 1 world title, but he remains 69 points behind Oscar Piastri, Norris’s teammate. Piastri qualified third at the Singapore Grand Prix, with Norris positioned directly behind Kimi Antonelli’s Mercedes on the grid.
With Verstappen narrowly missing out on pole and Russell leading the lineup, the Sunday race promises a tense battle at the Marina Bay Circuit. The grid arrangement sets the stage for a strategic and exciting contest as drivers seek to challenge for crucial points in the championship race.
Tomorrow's grid is an exciting prospect 👀
Let's take a look at how the drivers will line up 👊#F1 #SingaporeGP pic.twitter.com/CXSbP3Qjdo
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 4, 2025
