oscar piastri

MAX VERSTAPPEN blasted Formula One title rival Lando Norris for getting in his way after failing to land a maiden pole position at the Singapore Grand Prix.

George Russell denied old rival Verstappen the front row seat with a lightning-quick lap of 1:29.158 – a new record at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

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Verstappen, 28, is eyeing a first-ever win in Sunday’s race to complete the career set of winning at every F1 track on the 2025 calendar.

However, the flying Dutchman aimed a stinging shot at McLaren’s Norris – who had claimed Verstappen was “almost impossible” to beat because he had been “born into F1″ – by accusing him of forcing him into a mistake in the final sector of his lap.

Speaking in a unique three-driver post-qualifying press conference because of the sweltering temperatures, which triggered a first-ever heat hazard warning issued by the FIA on Thursday, Verstappen was asked about a mistake during the final few corners.

The raging Red Bull driver replied: “Yeah, that’s what happens when there’s a car two seconds in front of you cruising in front.

“So that’s noted, will be remembered as well.”

When pressed on the identity of the culprit, Verstappen replied: “Not Oscar [Piastri]. So yeah, that was a bit of a shame. Otherwise, I think it could have been close for a pole.

“It’s very exciting here in qualifying. A little bit disappointed not to be first but for us this weekend the car has been really good.

Briton Russell was delighted with his top spot, a first-ever pole for him in Singapore after a “challenging day” on Friday following a crash in FP2.

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He said: “It’s good to come back and get a good result today.

“There’s a long sweaty race tomorrow but I knew there was potential in the car because Kimi [Antonelli] was doing an amazing job all weekend and I gained quite a lot from seeing what he was capable of doing.”

On the prospect of keeping four-time world champion Verstappen behind him going into Turn 1, Russell added: “Yeah, I mean Singapore’s not always been the kindest to me in the past.

“That’s been through my own doing the majority of the time. I’m not going to get carried away with this pole position. But it’s the best place to start.

“There’s a good pole side advantage here so I like to think I can hold the lead into Turn 1, but obviously this guy on my left is pretty good at race starts and sending it down the inside.”

Such a claim seemed off-beat considering Verstappen is 69 points behind McLaren championship leader Oscar Piastri, who scored third in Saturday’s qualifying.

Yet wins in Italy and Azerbaijan and a strong result in qualifying is threatening to split the drivers’ title race wide open despite the comparative dominance of McLaren for most of the season.

Piastri said: “I obviously would have wanted more but I don’t think we had four-tenths in it to go and get pole.”

Team-mate Norris, who will start P5 in the race, addressed Verstappen’s claim after the session.

He said: “Red Bull always complains. There was no problem with Max driving behind me. Yes, he was riding behind me. But there was such a huge distance, so no problem.”

There was early hope for Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari in qualifying as he topped the first session, but he ultimately ended up in P6 with team-mate Charles Leclerc in P7.

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LANDO NORRIS has boycotted social media after falling behind McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri in the F1 title race.

Despite Norris’ pre-season billing as the Championship favourite, the McLaren star has been outdone by the Aussie’s momentum in the opening six races of the season.

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And Norris has been subject to fresh hate and abuse since falling 16 points behind Piastri, who – despite playing second fiddle to the Brit last year – is the new bookie’s favourite.

Speaking to reporters including SunSport in the McLaren motorhome at Imola, Norris opened up about his online detox ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix this Sunday.

The 25-year-old admitted: “I’ve not been on social media for a few weeks now.It’s not something I enjoy. I don’t need to be on it. It’s my life and I can do what I like.

“I enjoy not going on my phone as much as I used to. I still text my friends.

“But I see social media as a waste of my time and energy. I don’t need it or want it. I don’t find it interesting.

“I’ve got more time to do things that I want to do, I play golf and train and want to be productive.”

Of course, it’s still too early to write any driver off with 16 more races up for grabs, but the feeling in the Norris camp seems somewhat bleak going into the European triple header.

Despite sitting second in the standings, Norris also revealed he feels “unhappy” with how his MCL39 feels and isn’t bothered about winning the title.

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Asked if he was thinking about the title standings, Norris said: “No, is the answer.

“I don’t care about it and won’t think about it. It is easy for things to change.

“Oscar has done a good job. But a lot of it is just focusing on myself.
“He’s just another competitor. Another guy, he’s just dressed in the same colours.

“It’s been clear that there have been differences from last year in how the car works, how it acts, and how I’m able to get lap time out of it and perform.

“I’m obviously not happy at the moment, but we will see with the upgrades this week.”

Meanwhile, Lewis Hamilton, 40, unfollowed everyone on Instagram, including all of his Ferrari team, in the days after his played-down radio spat with team strategists in Miami last time out.

On this, Norris added: “Lewis can do what he wants, good for him.”

The Brit’s first season since leaving Mercedes has been a big let down so far, as the Scuderia were meant to be challenging for the title after finishing second in the Constructors race last season.

Instead, Andrea Stella’s team linger a staggering 152 points behind leaders McLaren in the, while Hamilton sits 90 points adrift of Piastri and behind both Silver Arrow drivers in seventh.