Lando Norris Warned About Max Verstappen's Retaliation After Singapore Incident

Lando Norris has been put on alert regarding Max Verstappen's potential retaliation as the Formula 1 season continues. The Red Bull driver, reportedly irked by Norris during Singapore Grand Prix qualifying, made it clear he 'will remember' the incident.

Why it matters:

• Max Verstappen, despite being a long shot for the title, could play a significant 'kingmaker' role, potentially influencing the championship outcome between McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.
• The dynamic between the two drivers, who are friends off-track, highlights the intense competitive nature of F1 where on-track etiquette can lead to future repercussions.

The Details:

• During qualifying in Singapore, Verstappen's race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, blamed a slow-moving Norris, who was pitting, for putting 'dirty air' on the nose of Verstappen's RB21, costing him a chance at pole position.
• Verstappen explicitly stated post-qualifying, "That's noted. It will be remembered as well," when asked about the incident, specifically excluding Oscar Piastri from his comments.
• Impact of Dirty Air: According to former F1 driver Robert Doornbos, having a car two seconds ahead, even when cruising, creates dirty air that reduces downforce and can lead to braking issues, crucial in the fight for hundredths of a second in qualifying.
• Verstappen's Warning: Doornbos interpreted Verstappen's comments as a direct warning to Norris, suggesting that Norris should "better watch out" in future qualifying sessions.

Between the lines:

• While Norris and Verstappen maintain a friendly relationship off-track, Verstappen has a history of aggressive on-track tactics, even against friends, as seen in past incidents in Austria, Austin, and Mexico.
• In the 2025 season, during the Monza Grand Prix, Verstappen crowded Norris onto the grass at the start, further indicating his unwillingness to yield, even to his 'mate.'

What's next:

• As the F1 season heads to the Circuit of The Americas for the United States Grand Prix, Norris will need to manage not only the intra-team battle with Piastri but also be wary of Verstappen's actions.
• Verstappen, with "nothing to lose" in the title race, could strategically impact the points distribution among the McLaren drivers in the remaining six races, potentially deciding the championship.