Reigning world champion Max Verstappen hinted that Lando Norris’s behavior during the qualifying session at the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix may have impacted his own final lap time. Verstappen, who was aiming for pole position, felt his last flying lap in Q3 was compromised by Norris “cruising” ahead of him on the track.
By the end of the session at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Verstappen secured second place, just behind Mercedes’ George Russell, who set an impressive best time of 1:29.158. The margin separating Verstappen from Russell was incredibly small, underscoring how tight the competition was.
Addressing the situation involving Norris, Verstappen remarked,
“It could have been close for pole – but it is hard when there is a car just cruising two seconds in front. It has been noted. Not Oscar.”
The rest of the top ten qualifiers included McLaren’s Oscar Piastri in third, Kimi Antonelli fourth, Norris fifth, followed by Lewis Hamilton, Charles Leclerc, Isack Hadjar, Oliver Bearman, and Fernando Alonso finishing tenth.
Verstappen’s Current Standing and Title Prospects
Verstappen has shown strong form in recent races, winning consecutively and moving back into contention for the drivers’ championship. At present, Verstappen holds third place in the standings with 255 points, trailing his title rivals Lando Norris, who sits second with 299 points, and Oscar Piastri leading with 324 points.
This battle highlights the intense competition at the top and the fine margins between the drivers, especially at demanding tracks like Singapore.
Verstappen Reflects Positively on Friday Practice Performance
Despite the subtle critique of Norris in qualifying, Verstappen was generally pleased with the RB21’s performance during Friday’s practice sessions. The car’s consistent reliability and pace in recent races have aided Verstappen in fighting near the front of the grid.
After the second free practice session, Verstappen shared his thoughts:
“It was not too bad. I think FP1 started quite nicely, we were just getting up to speed with things but the car was not too bad. A bit like the last two weekends where there were no major problems and then in FP2, a few things that we tried, some were good so we just need to try and optimise that a bit more. Overall and in general, quite satisfied but definitely need a bit more pace to fight up at the front tomorrow.”
These comments reflect Verstappen’s determination to refine the car’s setup ahead of qualifying and race day.
Race Day Outlook and Strategic Goals
Starting tomorrow’s Singapore Grand Prix in second position places Verstappen close to key competitors Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. His primary goal will be to overtake George Russell early in the race to seize control and then maintain a strong pace to maximize points.
Given the small gaps between these front runners, tomorrow’s race outcome could significantly affect the championship standings moving forward, with Verstappen aiming to capitalize on any opening to close the points gap.
