Max Verstappen loses patience with Lando Norris: "I don’t want to talk to him"

Max Verstappen and Lando Norris are marked by a long-standing friendship, despite the fact that in the past two years their relationship has been challenged by McLaren’s mighty performance growth. Between the two, however, relations have remained almost relaxed, at least until this Saturday’s qualifying ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix. An incident that occurred during Q3, in fact, triggered the Red Bull Dutchman’s anger at his colleague.

The whole thing happened when Verstappen was attempting his last assault on pole position, which then went to George Russell in a Mercedes. In front of him, however, was Norris&#8217s own McLaren, which was proceeding at reduced speed after having already set the fastest lap. Immediate was the Dutchman&#8217s stymied reaction, and he then recoiled once he got out of his Red Bull.

“These are the things that happen when you find yourself in front of a car only two seconds apart. I will take note of what happened, I will remember it later” was Verstappen&#8221s not-so-subtle threat against Norris. The Dutchman, after all, has to make up 69 points in the standings from Piastri’s other McLaren, which finished qualifying toward the Singapore Grand Prix in third place. A pole position, therefore, would have been the’ideal starting point to try to further narrow the gap from the Australian.

In the press conference at the end of the day, therefore, Verstappen stepped up his game. Dry was his answer to those who asked him about a possible confrontation with Norris to clarify what had happened on the track. “No, I’m not going to talk to him. It seems pretty obvious to me what he did, and it’s not a good thing. In general we understand when a situation like that can arise. That is why we try to stay out of the way and not create obstacles for others, we are pretty good at that. Then some times it can be difficult, but in this one it could have been avoided”, thundered the Red Bull driver.