McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has responded to Max Verstappen’s accusation that Lando Norris hindered him during qualifying at the Singapore Grand Prix. Verstappen, competing for pole position behind George Russell, confronted a slow-moving Norris at Turn 16, which he says disrupted his final flying lap.
The Dutch driver, who approached the corner a few seconds behind Norris, made a mistake and suggested he lost the chance for a clean lap because Norris was impeding him. Verstappen aborted his flying lap before Turn 18 and gave Norris a sarcastic thumbs-up as the McLaren driver headed into the pit lane.
Details Behind Verstappen’s Claim of Being Impeded by Norris
Following his second-place qualifying finish behind George Russell, Verstappen explained in a post-session interview on F1TV the cause of his error in the closing sector. He said,
“Yeah, that’s what happens when there’s a car in front of you just cruising two seconds in front. So that’s noted, will be remembered as well.”
When asked by interviewer David Coulthard who was ahead of him, Verstappen shook his head when Oscar Piastri’s name came up, clearly implying that it was Norris whom he referred to.
Zak Brown Disputes Claims of Norris Blocking Verstappen
Contrary to Verstappen’s remarks, Zak Brown rejected the accusation that Norris impeded the Red Bull driver during qualifying. Speaking to Viaplay and quoted by GPBlog, Brown said,
“I just watched the replay, and unless it was the wrong replay, I can’t really see what they’re talking about regarding blocking. So I think it was a non-issue, maybe some frustration, or a distraction when you see someone.”
Norris, who qualified in fifth place behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli, continues to face challenges on the Marina Bay Street Circuit, similar to struggles McLaren encountered at the recent Baku race. However, the team’s pace showed slight improvement in Singapore compared to their previous outing.
Verstappen and Norris Face Off Amid Rising Tensions in Final F1 Races
The rivalry between Max Verstappen and Lando Norris will be significant over the last seven races of the 2025 Formula 1 campaign. Norris currently holds second place in the driver standings with 299 points, maintaining a 44-point lead over Verstappen’s 255.
Qualifying positions are critical at the Singapore circuit due to its limited overtaking opportunities. During the FIA post-race conference, Verstappen expressed frustration and stated Norris could have handled the situation better to avoid interfering. When asked if he planned to confront Norris directly about the incident, Verstappen replied,
“No, I think it’s quite clear that it’s not nice when it happens to someone. In general, we’re always quite good at that, staying out of the way. Sometimes it’s a bit more complicated, but I think in Q3 with only 10 cars on the track it could’ve been avoided.”
Notably, Verstappen is yet to win at Singapore, making it the only track on the current calendar where he has not secured a victory.
Impact on Championship and What to Watch Moving Forward
This qualifying confrontation underscores the growing tension between Norris and Verstappen as the championship battle intensifies. With Norris leading the standings, moments like the Singapore qualifying incident may influence how the drivers approach upcoming race weekends. McLaren’s response, as voiced by Zak Brown, denies any intentional blocking, suggesting Verstappen’s frustration may stem from the pressure of the tightly contested rivalry. The remainder of the season will reveal how this and other on-track clashes impact both drivers’ campaigns and potentially the drivers’ championship outcome.
